A major breakthrough in space science has revealed that over 90 percent of meteorites that land on Earth can now be traced back to their parent bodies in space.
This exciting development comes from recent studies that used advanced telescope observations and computer simulations.
New Research Identifies Origins of Meteorites
Until now, scientists could only connect a small number of meteorites to their origins. This new research is set to transform our understanding of these celestial fragments.
The studies show that many meteorites share similar materials and have been affected by cosmic radiation for a shorter amount of time than previously thought. This suggests that they likely broke off from their parent bodies not long before they reached Earth.
By comparing the types of rocks found in meteorites to those in asteroids, researchers can better understand where they come from.
Researchers from the French National Centre for Scientific Research, the European Southern Observatory and Charles University in the Czech Republic led this research, focusing primarily on two types of meteorites known as H (high iron) and L (low iron) chondrites.
These types make up about 70% of the meteorites that hit our planet. They got their names from the tiny round particles called chondrules, which form when molten rock cools quickly.
The research teams identified that these H and L chondrites come from three main asteroid families: Massalia, Karin and Koronis. These families are located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, as per Science Daily.
Future Research Directions
By examining significant collisions that occurred within these families, the researchers found dates when these fragments broke away. For instance, the Massalia family experienced major collisions around 466 million and 40 million years ago. In contrast, the Karin and Koronis families had collisions approximately 5.8 and 7.6 million years ago.
The studies indicate that many meteorites found on Earth today originate from a smaller number of asteroid groups than scientists previously thought.
They successfully identified several other families, including Veritas, Polana, and Eos, bringing the total number of identified meteorites to over 90%. This discovery provides valuable insights into the history of our Solar System and could help predict where asteroids might head in the future.
The researchers are determined to continue their studies until they identify every type of meteorite. They note that future research should focus on the few remaining classes of meteorites, particularly iron meteorites, pallasites and ureilites.
Understanding these meteorites can provide further knowledge about their origins and roles in the history of our Solar System.
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