Some 10 to 20 kilometres above the Earth's surface, the meteor exploded, showering fragments over southern Quebec. Because numerous pieces of the same composition have been found, the event is called the St-Robert meteorite shower. Hundreds of fragments of the St-Robert meteorite are believed to have fallen, but only about 20 have so far been recovered.
Meteorites are rocks from outer space that have fallen to earth.
Meteorites are an invaluable source of information about outer space, and they have been used by scientists to learn about the universe since long before space travel was possible. Because most meteorites date from the origin of the Earth, 4.6 billion years ago, they provide clues about the nature and origin of our solar system and the interior of planets. Some are believed to be samples of the Moon and Mars or pieces of comets, but most are probably fragments of asteroids. The St-Robert event is rare for several reasons. Most important, the fall yielded a number of scientifically valuable fragments that were recovered within hours or days of landing.