As a result of the dangers posed by near-Earth objects (NEOs), hundreds of astronomers scour the skies for a possible threat. On February 13, 2023 at 02:59 UTC, one such astronomer in Hungary, Krisztián Sárneczky, made a startling discovery while attempting to identify NEOs posing a hazard to Earth’s inhabitants: it was a previously unknown asteroid whose trajectory seemed to be on a collision course with our planet.

Sárneczky immediately alerted the Minor Planet Center’s Near-Earth Object Confirmation Page (“NEOCP”). Upon seeing Sameczky’s bulletin, colleagues at different observatories confirmed his findings and soon 20 different observatories across the globe followed the flight path of what was gratefully a small asteroid now named 2023 CX1.

Only nine asteroids had been discovered by astronomers prior to impacting Earth and only four resulted in the recovery of meteorites. Now offered is a sample of the 2023 CX1 asteroid — discovered just seven hours prior to atmospheric entry.

The determination of 2023 CX1’s flight path correctly predicted it would impact the coast of Normandy, France. The fireball, the result of frictional heating in Earth’s atmosphere, was first observed at an altitude of 89 kilometers (55 miles) and was seen in France, England, Belgium, Holland and Germany. 17 different videos of 2023 CX1’s descent exist. Fragmentation in the atmosphere generated repeated shock waves and sonic booms. The first meteorite was found two days later on February 15^th by an art student who participated in the search. Only 1200 grams of this meteorite — whose meteorite name became Saint-Pierre-le-Viger after the area in which it fell — have been recovered. Now offered is what is perhaps the single most aesthetic example of this historic event along with a poster featuring this very same specimen.

Saint-Pierre-le-Viger is a chondritic meteorite. A filigree of fine, abundant shock-melt veins (the result of impacts on its parent asteroid) transect the meteorite’s creamy-gray matrix. Mineralogically Saint-Pierre primarily consists of olivine and orthopyroxene, plagioclase, rare high-Ca pyroxene along with flakes of iron-nickel. The fusion crust reveals two distinct layers throughout and in some places even three layers.

This sample fractured as a result of having landed in the Autigny Tennis Courts (and for tennis aficionados, it is unclear whether it was “in” or “out”). Only a cap of fusion crust remains which provides contrast with its lighter, filigreed matrix. This is an alluring, highly aesthetic sample of a metamorphosed chondritic meteorite which happens to be from one of only four asteroids discovered prior to entering Earth’s atmosphere. Accompanied by a framed poster picturing this now legendary specimen, now offered is an incomparable meteorite from an equally remarkable event.

Christie's would like to thank Dr. Alan E. Rubin at the Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles for his assistance in preparing this catalogue.
Specimen Measurements: 55 x 22 x 25mm (2.25 x 1 x 1in.) and 52 grams
Framed Poster Measurements: 68.5 x 47 centimeters (27 x 18.5 inches)

Thierry Monter Alpha Collection, Paris