Meteorites
Meteorites
Meteorites are small extraterrestrial bodies that reach the Earth 's surface. They are small asteroids, approximately boulder-sized or less. While still in space these bodies are called meteoroids. When they enter the Earth 's atmosphere, but before reaching the surface, they are called meteors.
Seventy nine percent of meteorites are chondrites. Chondrites are balls of mafic minerals with small grain size indicative of rapid cooling. In most chondrites small spherules, called chondrules, can be found. Chondrites are typically about 4.6 billion years old and are thought to represent material from the asteroid belt. It is unknown how they formed. Carbonaceous chondrites, thought to be unaltered solar nebula material, constitute about five percent of meteorites and contain small amounts of organic materials, including amino acids. Also, presolar grains are identified in carbonaceous chondrites. About six percent of meteorites are iron meteorites with intergrowths of iron-nickel alloys, such as kamacite. Unlike chondrites, the crystals are large and appear to represent slow crystallization. Iron meteorites are thought to be the core material of one or more planets that subsequently broke up. Stony iron meteorites constitute the remaining two percent. They are a mixture of iron-nickel and silicate minerals. They are thought to have originated in the boundary zone above the core regions where iron meteorites originated.
When a meteorite enters the Earth 's atmosphere, air drag and friction cause the body to heat up and emit light, thus forming a fireball or shooting star. Throughout the ages, meteorites were highly thought of as sacred objects by different cultures and ancient
Meteorites 3 civilizations. The extravagant fall of a meteorite, accompanied by light and sound phenomena, such as falling stars and sonic booms, has always kindled the human imagination, evoking fear and awe in everyone who witnesses such an event. For obvious reasons, the
Meteorites are small extraterrestrial bodies that reach the Earth 's surface. They are small asteroids, approximately boulder-sized or less. While still in space these bodies are called meteoroids. When they enter the Earth 's atmosphere, but before reaching the surface, they are called meteors.
Seventy nine percent of meteorites are chondrites. Chondrites are balls of mafic minerals with small grain size indicative of rapid cooling. In most chondrites small spherules, called chondrules, can be found. Chondrites are typically about 4.6 billion years old and are thought to represent material from the asteroid belt. It is unknown how they formed. Carbonaceous chondrites, thought to be unaltered solar nebula material, constitute about five percent of meteorites and contain small amounts of organic materials, including amino acids. Also, presolar grains are identified in carbonaceous chondrites. About six percent of meteorites are iron meteorites with intergrowths of iron-nickel alloys, such as kamacite. Unlike chondrites, the crystals are large and appear to represent slow crystallization. Iron meteorites are thought to be the core material of one or more planets that subsequently broke up. Stony iron meteorites constitute the remaining two percent. They are a mixture of iron-nickel and silicate minerals. They are thought to have originated in the boundary zone above the core regions where iron meteorites originated.
When a meteorite enters the Earth 's atmosphere, air drag and friction cause the body to heat up and emit light, thus forming a fireball or shooting star. Throughout the ages, meteorites were highly thought of as sacred objects by different cultures and ancient
Meteorites 3 civilizations. The extravagant fall of a meteorite, accompanied by light and sound phenomena, such as falling stars and sonic booms, has always kindled the human imagination, evoking fear and awe in everyone who witnesses such an event. For obvious reasons, the
References: Author: Bill Arnett (2005) Title: Meteors, Meteorites and Impacts Date Retrieved: 9-15-05 Source: http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/meteorites.html Author: Hyperphysics (2005) Title: Classification of Meteorites Date Retrieved: 9-15-05 Source: http://hyperphysics.phyastr.gsu.edu/hbase/solar/meteor.html Author: The Encyclopedia of Astrobiology, Astronomy, and Spaceflight (2005) Title: Meteorites, famous Date Retrieved: 9-15-05 Source: http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/M/meteorites_famous.html Author: Encarta Online Encyclopedia (2005) Title: Meteorite Date Retrieved: 9-15-05 Source: http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761571891/Meteorite.html Author: Info Please (2005) Title: Meteorites Date Retrieved: 9-15-05 Source: http://www.infoplease.com/search?fr=iptn&query=meteorites&in=all&x=28&y=5