The Kesen meteorite fell on June 13, 1850, landing in a swamp in the outskirts of the city of Rikuzentakata, Kesen DistrictinIwate Prefecture, Japan.
| Kesen meteorite | |
|---|---|
Kesen meteorite, main mass
| |
| Type | Chondrite |
| Class | Ordinary chondrite |
| Group | H4 |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Rikuzentakata, Kesen District, Iwate Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 38°59′N 141°37′E / 38.983°N 141.617°E / 38.983; 141.617 |
| Fall date | 1850-06-13 |
| TKW | 135 kilograms (298 lb) |
It was classified as a H4-type ordinary chondrite.
The meteorite initially weighed 135 kilograms (298 lb), however some local residents cut off pieces for charms or souvenirs such that its current weight is 106 kilograms (234 lb). The meteorite was moved to Tokyo where it was held in the Imperial Household Museum. It is currently housed at the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo. A full-scale replica was housed at the Rikuzentakata Municipal Museum until it was lost in the 2011 Tōhoku tsunami.