Topic: Geology/Meteorites
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๐ Wanggongchang Explosion
The Wanggongchang Explosion (Chinese: ็ๆญๅป ๅคง็็ธ), also known as the Great Tianqi Explosion (ๅคฉๅๅคง็็ธ), Wanggongchang Calamity (็ๆญๅป ไน่ฎ) or Beijing Explosive Incident in Late Ming (ๆๆๅไบฌ็็ธไบไปถ), was an unexplained catastrophic explosion that occurred on May 30 of the Chinese calendar in 1626 AD during the late reign of Tianqi Emperor, at the heavily populated Ming China capital Beijing, and had reportedly killed around 20,000 people. The nature of the explosion is still unclear to this day, as it is estimated to have released energy equivalent to about 10-20 kiloton of TNT, similar to that of the Hiroshima bombing.
Discussed on
- "Wanggongchang Explosion" | 2020-01-04 | 204 Upvotes 41 Comments
๐ Tell HN: Perseids: "Last Chance" for Best Meteor Viewing Tonight
The Perseids are a prolific meteor shower associated with the comet SwiftโTuttle. The meteors are called the Perseids because the point from which they appear to hail (called the radiant) lies in the constellation Perseus.
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- "Tell HN: Perseids: "Last Chance" for Best Meteor Viewing Tonight" | 2009-08-12 | 20 Upvotes 13 Comments
๐ Thokcha (Meteorite Amulets)
Thokcha (Tibetan: เฝเฝผเฝเผเฝฃเพเฝเฝฆ, Wylie: thog lcags; also alternatively Tibetan: เฝเฝเฝเผเฝฃเพเฝเฝฆ, Wylie: gnam lcags) are tektites and meteorites which serve as amulets. Typically high in iron content, these are traditionally believed to contain a magical, protective power comparable to Tibetan dzi beads. Most thokcha are made of a copper alloy.
The use of meteoric iron has been common throughout the history of ferrous metallurgy. Historically, thokcha were prized for the metallurgical fabrication of weapons, musical instruments, and sacred tools, such as the phurba. Thokcha are an auspicious addition in the metallurgical fabrication of sacred objects cast from panchaloha.
Writer Robert Beer regards meteoric iron as "the supreme substance for forging the physical representation of the vajra or other iron weapons." It was believed that these amulets had been tempered by the celestial gods before falling to Earth. Beer describes the metal falling from space as a metaphor for "the indivisibility of form and emptiness." Many meteorite fragments can be found in Tibet due to its high altitude and open landscape.
Discussed on
- "Thokcha (Meteorite Amulets)" | 2023-10-23 | 13 Upvotes 5 Comments