Exhibition designed by the National Museum of Natural History and adapted by the Museum of Natural History of Troyes, presented at the Museum of Modern Art
Stones falling from the sky, meteorites fascinate as much as they worry. Revered for millennia, it was not until the 19th century that they were considered scientific objects in their own right. They carry invaluable information and remain a constant source of inspiration and emotion. Most meteorites were formed in the very first moments of the solar system, 4.56 billion years ago, and have hardly evolved since. Their study in the laboratory thus provides access to the first millions of years of our solar system.
Since the 1990s, research in this field has experienced a meteoric rise, benefiting from the discovery of exceptional meteorites but also from the development of astronomical observations and the revival of space exploration. The involvement of researchers at the National Museum of Natural History in research in cosmochemistry, astrophysics and space exploration is very strong at the international level.
By presenting these extraterrestrial stones to the public, in light of the latest scientific advances, the exhibition "Meteorites, between heaven and earth" invites the visitor on a journey through space and time. First on Earth, around meteorite falls, from shooting stars to impact craters, then in space, to the origins of the solar system to discover the origin and diversity of meteorites. Finally, in the world of research, up to space research. With an interactive and sensitive approach, the scenography offers an immersive journey, punctuated by numerous meteorite display cases, surprising films and innovative devices, in a poetic and contemporary atmosphere. More than 80 pieces from the collections of the Natural History Museum of Troyes, the 3rd largest public meteorite collection in France, are exhibited alongside the collections of the National Museum of Natural History, one of the most important collections in the world in terms of the number and scientific interest of its meteorites.
The exhibition also features contemporary art, showcasing works from private collections as well as Regional Contemporary Art Funds, inspired by these stones from space. And exceptionally, meteorites are made accessible to the public; at the end of the exhibition, visitors can even touch a piece of the Moon and a piece of Mars!
Visitors leave the exhibition with powerful scientific messages about the history of the solar system and our place in the universe. They will have marveled at objects 4.56 billion years old that traveled hundreds of millions of kilometers before reaching us.