Scientists study meteorites
to learn more about the solar system.
Meteorites are chunks of space rocks that fall to Earth. They are thought to be left-over remnants of the early solar system. Some meteorites are pieces of rock from the moon, Mars or other planets, and some are pieces of comets. Astronomers study meteorites to learn about the geology and atmosphere of other planets and the chemical makeup of the solar system.
Identification
Meteorites are rocks that originate in space and fall to the Earth's surface. As meteorites pass through Earth's atmosphere, they heat up and produce a bright streak of light. Small meteorites may burn up in the atmosphere, but larger ones can land and create large impact craters. Some scientists think that meteors emit radio waves that can cause nearby objects to vibrate and produce a hissing noise.
What Meteorites Are Made From
Meteorites may be made from stone or iron. About 90 percent of meteorites are stony or stony-iron. Stone meteorites are the most common types of meteorites found, and they are divided into two categories: chondrites and achondrites. Chondrites contain microscopic spheres of silicates, and achondrites are chondrites that have been melted and recrystallized. Silicated iron meteorites contain iron and other materials. Stony-iron meteorites are a combination of stone and nickel-iron. Iron meteorites contain nickel, which identifies them as being extraterrestrial.
Where Meteorites Are Found
Meteorites can fall almost anywhere on Earth, but finding them after they've landed is a problem in areas that are wet or overgrown with vegetation. The best places to find meteorites are usually in dry climates, such as the desert areas in the southwestern United States. Meteorites are subject to erosion and decomposition, and iron meteorites will corrode just like any other metal. Meteorites have even been found within the Arctic Circle, lying on top of the snow.
Life on Other Planets
Scientists study meteorites to try and determine if where they came from conditions that might support life. For instance, they study how a meteorite is crystallized, which gives them clues to help determine where it came from. Gas bubbles trapped within the meteorite provide information about the atmosphere of its planet of origin. Scientists examine the minute amounts of gas within these bubbles. One meteorite found in Antarctica in 1984 was thought to have evidence of microscopic life, but this is still under debate.
Mass Extinctions on Earth
Scientists study meteorites and their impact craters to determine what effect the meteorite had on the Earth and its inhabitants. For instance, the element iridium is rare on Earth, but often found in meteorites. Scientists have discovered an iridium-rich deposit that may mark the impact of a huge meteorite. This meteorite may have been responsible for obliterating the dinosaurs.
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