Nicely written essay. Also in the realm of historical astronomical events, I find it fascinating that there have been 7 supernovae that have in occurred in human history that were visible the naked eye. While it's a totally different phenomenon from a meteorite, it's similar in that we had no idea what they were, and now we do.
I find the notion of electrophonic sounds associated with meteor disintegration fascinating. When I was twelve or so, a few of my friends and I stayed up and watched a meteor shower. (The Perseids, I believe?) I recall one particular meteor that broke up. It was bright, vibrant. And I recall a distinct whooshing, crackling sound, like a firework, and then a pop as the bolide exploded. On reflection, I knew logically that I couldn’t be hearing something so far away simultaneously with seeing it, but my two friends also heard it. Strange stuff.
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