Meteorites have traditionally been divided into three broad categories: stony meteorites that are rocks, mainly composed of silicate minerals; iron meteorites that are largely composed of …

Feb 14, 2025 · When a meteoroid survives its trip through the atmosphere and hits the ground, it’s called a meteorite. Meteorites typically range between the size of a pebble and a fist. …

Dec 11, 2025 · Overview of meteorites and their impact on the earth Meteorites are fragments of debris from the asteroid belt that penetrate Earth's atmosphere and reach its surface.

There are several different types of meteorites! Learn about them in this article by Geoffrey Notkin, meteorite hunter.

Meteorites are like a time machine and spacecraft all in one. Discover how our scientists use rare specimens in the meteorite collection we care for to understand the history of Earth and our …

Apr 4, 2024 · Meteorites crash through the atmospheres of all planets and moons in our solar system. Some planets and moons don't have enough atmosphere to break apart meteors, …

Jul 31, 2025 · Meteorites are precious rock samples preserving material from the birth of the Solar System 4.6 billion years ago. Some are actual pieces of the original matter from which the …

Learn more about meteorite locations, and where meteorites are found, here! How do we know whether a meteorite is a new, distinct meteorite or part of an older find? Detailed microscopic, …

Most meteoroids burn up completely before reaching the ground, but some large ones survive and become meteorites. Meteorites can be a variety of sizes, from tiny pebbles to large boulders. …

Oct 10, 2025 · Meteorites are fragments of asteroids or comets that have survived their journey through Earth’s atmosphere and landed on the surface. They are often made up of rock, …

Jul 17, 2025 · Meteors and meteorites are often called “shooting stars” — bright lights streaking across the sky. But we call the same objects by different names, depending on where they are …

Other, smaller, pieces of extraterrestrial debris also cause meteors, including grains of dust from comets. While some meteorites are found immediately after their fall, many, called 'finds', have …

Dec 11, 2025 · Thus, the challenge for researchers is to determine which types of meteorites are related and which are not, as well as to identify the processes that were responsible for the …

These "shooting stars" are actually tiny grains of dust from space that burn up in Earth's atmosphere before reaching the ground. But hundreds of times a year, a rock called a …

Jun 16, 2025 · A meteorite is a solid piece of debris, originating from sources such as asteroids, comets, or even other planets like Mars or the Moon, that survives its passage through the …

To tell if a rock is a meteorite, start by examining its physical features and characteristics. Many meteorites are magnetic due to their iron-nickel content, but there are non-magnetic …

Meteorites have traditionally been divided into three broad categories: stony meteorites are rocks, mainly composed of silicate minerals; iron meteorites that are largely composed of metallic …

Dec 8, 2025 · The meteorite lit up the Michigan sky around 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, and was shared across social media.

For example, iron meteorites take much longer to weather and are easier to identify as unusual objects, as compared to other types. This may explain the increased proportion of iron …

4 days ago · Scientists are decoding fragile meteorites to uncover which small asteroids could become future treasure troves for space exploration.

Many meteorites are recovered only because at least one fragment of the meteoroid strikes a house, car, or other object that draws the attention of local people to an unusual event. …

In simplest terms, a meteorite is a rock that falls to Earth from space. Meteorites are rocks, but they are not like Earth rocks. Most are far older, and they provide some of the only samples …

Mar 8, 2016 · Meteorites are pieces of asteroids and other bodies like the moon and Mars that travel through space and fall to the earth. They are rocks that are similar in many ways to …

There are three major types of meteorites: the “irons,” the “stones,” and the “stony-irons.” Although the majority of meteorites that fall to Earth are stony, more of the meteorites that are …

2 days ago · Explore the 3D world of Asteroids, Comets and NEOs. Learn about past and future missions, tracking and predicting orbits, and close approaches to Earth.

6 days ago · How to watch a meteor shower Michelle Nichols, the director of public observing at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, recommends forgoing the use of telescopes or binoculars …

4 days ago · The annual Geminid meteor shower is set to peak this weekend, offering what is often one of the year's best and most reliable displays of shooting stars.