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Meteorites: Related Pages.Click here to visit the main page on, meteorites.
Meteorites that are recovered after being observed as they transitted the atmosphere or impacted the Earth are called falls.
Look Up, You Might See a Fireball Nov 3, 2005 - Have you seen some really bright meteors in the sky? You might have been lucky enough to see a fireball from the Taurid meteor shower. Every year in late October, early November, the Earth slams into the dust trail left behind Comet Encke. The tiny grains strike our atmosphere travelling at 105,000 kph (65,000 mph) and explode, leaving a bright trail that we see in the sky. 2005 could be a very special year for the Taurid meteor shower, which is due to peak between November 5th and November 12th. Meteorites Shared the Earth's Early History Sep 28, 2005 - To better understand the environment that formed the Earth, Purdue researchers are studying 29 meteorites that formed in our planet's neighbourhood. Scientists believe the Earth collided with a Mars-sized planet early on, which changed its chemical makeup (and helped to form the Moon). These meteorites formed at the same time as the Earth, but they avoided this cataclysmic collision, so they can offer clues which were wiped clean from our planet. Oldest Meteorites Hint at Early Solar System Sep 20, 2005 - Of all the meteorites found around the world, on 45 formed before our Solar System. They provide a unique insight into the composition of the stellar nebula that went on to form our Sun and planets. These early rocks have very few volatile materials in them, like zinc, lead and sodium. So this "volatile depletion" must have been one of the first things to happen in the stellar nebula, and not during planetary formation as previously believed. Evidence of Our Violent Early Solar System Aug 19, 2005 - A researcher from the University of Toronto has found unexpectedly young material in meteorites, challenging theories about early events in the formation of the Solar System. A paper published in Nature reports that key minerals called chondrules have been found in meteorites that formed much later than the initial nebula that collapsed to form our Solar System. Instead, these chodrules were probably created when two newly forming planets smashed together. Heavy Bombardments Make the Best Homes... for Microbes Aug 9, 2005 - The Earth suffered a period of heavy bombardment in its early days when the Solar System was swarming with asteroids. Although it would have been catastrophic for you and I, it might have actually been a nice environment for early microbes. This is according to researchers who spent time at Haughton Impact Crater on Devon Island, in the Canadian Arctic. They found many life-friendly features in this "ground zero", including hydrothermal vents, blasted rocks that make cosy microbe homes, and a nice, protected impact basin. The 2005 Perseid Meteor Shower Jul 26, 2005 - Don't forget to mark your calendars for one of the best sky events of the year, the Perseid meteor shower. This year the shower peaks before dawn on August 12. Viewers in both hemispheres will be able to see meteors; however, it's folks in the north who'll get to see more. And as a special bonus, Mars will be visible in the eastern sky, near where the Perseid meteors seem to originate. Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower Peaks on May 6 May 5, 2005 - Skywatchers are in for a treat tonight as the eta Aquarid meteors will be putting on a show. Observers in the southern hemisphere should be able to see 15-60 meteors an hour depending on the darkness of the skies. Those in the northern hemisphere won't be so lucky, seeing only about 10 meteors an hour. Look to the constellation of Aquarius, towards the East in the early morning of May 6, and you should see a more than a few meteors. Be patient, dress warmly, and bring a friend or two.. Geminids Peak on December 13th Dec 7, 2004 - On Monday, December 13, brave skywatchers should be able to see hundreds of meteors an hour when the Geminids begin. It's possibly the best meteor showers in the whole year, and happens because the Earth is plowing through bits of dust left over from Asteroid 3200 Phaethon at 129,000 kph (80,000 mph). Although you'll see more meteors at midnight, one of the best times to watch is right at sunset when the constellation of Gemini is right on the horizon. You might see an Earthgrazer, where a meteor skips across the Earth's atmosphere and leaves a long, bright and colourful tail. Orionid Meteor Shower, October 21 Oct 20, 2004 - You might want to set your alarm clock a little earlier on Thursday morning, so you can enjoy the Orionid meteor shower. If you look towards the constellation of Orion, with its easy to find belt, and be patient, you should see at least a few meteors streak past in the sky. This annual event happens because the Earth is passing through the dust trail of Halley's Comet, which returns to the Sun every 76 years. Orionids move fast, striking the atmosphere at 66 km/s (148,000 mph), which means they can be more spectacular that other, slower moving meteor showers. In dark conditions, you can expect to see 15-30 meteors an hour; less in the city. Meteorites Could Have Supplied the Earth with Phosphorus Aug 24, 2004 - Phosphorus is central to life on Earth for many reasons; it forms the backbone of DNA and RNA, and it's an important element in many chemical processes. The questions is, how did the Earth get so much of it? Researchers from the University of Arizona believe that the meteorites that rained down early on during the formation of the Earth could have been the source. They found that many iron-nickel meteorites are rich with minerals that contain phosphorus, and propose that life could have formed around a spot where a meteorite struck the Earth. Photograph the Perseids Tonight Aug 11, 2004 - Tonight's the night when the Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak of 60 meteors/hour, and if we're lucky, a new filament of material from Comet Swift-Tuttle will give the event and extra boost. One way to make the moment last is to capture images of meteors with your camera; but, it's as hard as it sounds. First, you want to have the darkest skies you can find, and don't start until after 9:00pm. Use a standard 35 mm camera secured to a tripod, and use very fast film: ISO 400, 800 or 1,000 is recommended. Pick and area of sky, focus on infinity, and then start your camera's exposure, and then stop when a meteor streaks through the area. Don't be afraid to experiment. Perseids Will Peak on August 11 Aug 6, 2004 - The annual Perseid meteor shower has already started, but it's going to peak on the night of August 11, with observers in dark locations seeing upwards of 60 meteors an hour. This year could be special, though, since the Earth is expected to pass through a brand new filament of material left over from Comet Swift-Tuttle when it flew past in 1862. This year's Perseids could turn into a full fledged meteor storm, but the only way to know for sure is to get out and watch. The best time will be after 11 pm, in the darkest skies you can find. Jul 26, 2004 - If you've got some dark skies, look up for a few minutes, and you're bound to see a meteor go by. That's because the annual Perseid meteor shower has begun, and it's only going to get better. The Earth began passing through the dust trail left behind Comet Swift-Tuttle on July 23rd, and we'll stay in it until August 22. The shower reaches its peak on August 12, however, when skywatchers should be able to see 80-100 meteors an hour. This is a good year for the Perseids because the Moon won't be too bright, and the Earth might be passing through an extra filament of dust for the first time on August 11. Jul 21, 2004 - Researchers have found a new meteorite which they believe originated from Mars. The 715 gram (1.6 pound) black rock was discovered during a meteorite search in Antarctica. A total of 1358 meteorites were discovered during the search last year, but this one is unmistakably Martian in origin, according to scientists classifying the meteorites. Scientists from around the world are invited to request samples of the rock, dubbed MIL 03346, for their research. Perhaps it will be able to help clear up the controversy about whether life was found in that other rock from Mars. Perseids Should be Good This Year Jun 28, 2004 - If you're planning your summer vacation, you might want to see if you can get your family outside of the city on Thursday, August 12 to enjoy the annual Perseid meteor shower. This year will be especially good because the Moon won't be around to brighten the sky. We might also be passing through a newer filament of dust ejected from Comet Swift-Tuttle, which is responsible for the meteor shower. Observers in North America should be might be able to see up to 200 meteors an hour when the Earth passes through this filament, in addition to the regular 40-60 meteors/hour we see every year. Scientists Analyze Meteor Fragments Apr 15, 2004 - Researchers from the University of Chicago are analyzing hundreds of meteorite fragments that struck Park Forest, Ill. in the evening of March 26, 2003. Witnesses in several states saw the tremendous fireball when it struck last year, and volunteers eventually collected 30 kg of fragments; some that crashed through the roofs of their houses. It's believed that the original meteor weighed 900 kg when it exploded in the sky. The heavier pieces fell nearly straight down, and the lighter pieces were carried downwind a bit to create a huge swath of fragments. Mar 5, 2004 - A group of scientists from Washington University in St. Louis found nine specks of silicate stardust inside a primitive meteorite, after examining more than 159,000 particles. This is an important discovery, because it tells researchers that the early solar system formed from gas and dust, and not in a hot solar nebula - until now, these silicate particles had only been found in interplanetary dust. The team used a special mass spectrometer to analyze the composition of individual grains in the meteorite, searching for particles which had to be formed in stars. Nov 5, 2003 - The Leonid meteor shower will be making an appearance on November 17, 2003, and it might be an impressive show. These meteors are the minute dust trails of Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle which flash in the sky as they strike the Earth's atmosphere. In past years, the Leonids have been very impressive, sometimes thousands of meteors have been seen. Astronomers aren't sure how many will strike the Earth this year - it could be anywhere from a couple an hour to several hundred per hour. The best views will be in Europe, but the rest of the world will still get a show if they watch the skies after midnight. Sep 29, 2003 - At least 20 people were injured and several homes were destroyed when a meteorite crashed into a village in eastern India. Several reports say that a fireball flew across the sky, and burning fragments rained down across a wide area. Officials are in the area now, assessing the damage, and trying to help recover pieces of the meteorite for further study. Print Version Print This Article |
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