In 1923, a brilliant fireball changed the course of H. H. Nininger’s life. Nininger, a biology professor at McPherson College in Kansas, became fascinated by meteorites and embarked on a lifelong pursuit of these elusive “stones from the sky.” His remarkable journey helped transform the scientific study of meteorites—and became the story told in In Search of Falling Stars.
About the Book
In Search of Falling Stars is H. H. Nininger’s firsthand account of an extraordinary life devoted to meteorites. Traveling across the country, often following little more than reports of a fireball or stories of an unusual stone, Nininger searched farms, fields, small towns, and deserts for meteorites that others had overlooked. Along the way, he built an important collection, educated the public, and challenged the scientific establishment to take these visitors from space seriously.
This expanded autobiography draws on Nininger’s original manuscripts, handwritten notes, correspondence, and other material to present the story more fully than the version published in 1972 as Find a Falling Star. It is a story of scientific curiosity, adventure, persistence, and one man’s determination to pursue an unconventional path.
About the Author
Harvey Harlow Nininger (1887–1986) was a pioneering American meteorite hunter, educator, and self-taught meteoriticist whose work helped advance the scientific study of meteorites. Originally trained as a biologist, he devoted more than half a century to locating, collecting, studying, and educating the public about meteorites.
Nininger traveled extensively in search of meteorites, assembled what became the largest personal meteorite collection of its time, and, with his wife Addie, established the American Meteorite Museum in Arizona. He wrote more than 140 scientific papers on meteorites and 10 books during his career.
In 1958, Nininger sold a significant portion of his meteorite collection to the British Museum. Two years later, Arizona State University acquired the remainder, an acquisition that led to the establishment of its Center for Meteorite studies. His meteorites continue to support scientific research and education today. In Search of Falling Stars preserves Nininger’s own account of the discoveries, setbacks, adventures, and determination behind his remarkable career.