Generally speaking most meteorites are probably samples of the Near Earth Asteroids (NEAs). Some meteorites contain pre solar grains that existed before the ignition of the Sun and predate our solar system. Some have been linked to specific planetary bodies: Mars, Earth’s moon, and Asteroid 4 Vesta. Most meteorites probably come from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. They also represent natural resources mankind may use to survive as they travel through space. They teach us about planetary geology and the formation of our solar system. Meteorites are a poor mans space probe and time machine. A meteorite is the portion of an object that survives passage through the atmosphere and lands on the ground. Most of the objects burn completely up before reaching the ground. However every meteor doesn’t produce a meteorite. Every meteorite started out as a meteor when it entered our atmosphere. The object causing the meteor can be as small as a fleck of dust or as big as a mountain. A meteor is a phenomenon that occurs when a solid object makes contact with Earth’s atmosphere causing an exchange of ions resulting in a bright streak of light in the sky. ![]() A meteor is a streak in the sky and gets its name from the Greek word “ meteoros” meaning something high in the sky. Meteorites are typically named for the town, post office or other geographical landmark nearest the recovery sight. A “Find” is a recovered meteorite whose fall was not witnessed. Things reported to be struck by a meteorite fall are several houses, a barn, paved roads, a dog, a cow, a car, a mail box, a large machine, and a pot on a stove.Ī “Fall” is a recovered meteorite that was witnessed to fall. Though it was probably pretty painful the injury was not life-threatening. More recent data sets transmitted by Mars Global Surveyor, Pathfinder and other scout missions also confirm the origin of the SNC meteorites.Ī woman was struck on the thigh by a stone meteorite that crashed through the roof of her home in Sylacauga, Alabama, USA. By late 1983 others showed that the isotopic concentrations of various noble gasses found in shergottioes (S) were consistent with the atmosphere of Mars as measured by the Viking landers. In early 1983 scientists reported that the meteorites in this group contained chemical, isotopic, and petrologic features consistent with available data collected by the Viking landers. This conclusion is now well accepted in the scientific community. Originally it was by a process of elimination they reasonably concluded that these meteorites must have originated on Mars. They are not only compositionally different from all other meteorites but they are also much younger (175 million to 1.3 billion years old compared to the average of other meteorites at ~4.5 billion years old). However, much evidence suggests that the origin of the HED group is the asteroid 4Vesta.įor several years scientists were puzzled by the SNC group of meteorites. So far only two parent bodies have been positively identified Earth’s moon and Mars. They once were moving along in space on a collision course with earth and survive entry into our atmosphere and the impact. Meteorites are bits of other planets, asteroid, or planetoids which are found on Earth. Are meteorites hot when they hit the earth?. ![]() Here are some common questions and answers regarding meteorites and tektites:
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |