Some good material here: http://www.meteorite.fr/en/basics/meteoritics.htm http://www.meteorite.fr/en/basics/meteoritics.htm From which: > Until the early 19

Some good material here: http://www.meteorite.fr/en/basics/meteoritics.htm http://www.meteorite.fr/en/basics/meteoritics.htm From which: > Until the early 19th century, most scientists shared Isaac Newton's view that no small objects could exist in the interplanetary space - an assumption leaving no room for stones falling from the sky. And... >... From this, he [Ernst Florens Chladni] was forced to conclude that meteorites were actually responsible for the phenomena known as fireballs, and, more importantly, that they must have their origins in outer space. His view received immediate resistance and mockery by the scientific community.