Meteorites

Meteorites are solid fragments of material that have fallen to Earth from space. They originate from asteroids, comets, or the Moon and Mars, following their entry into the Earth's atmosphere. As they traverse through the atmosphere, they experience intense heat and pressure, causing them to glow and often break apart; the remaining pieces that survive the journey and land on Earth are termed meteorites. Meteorites vary in composition, falling into categories such as stony meteorites, iron meteorites, and stony-iron meteorites, reflecting their different origins and the materials they are made from. They are valuable to scientists for the insights they provide into the early solar system, planetary formation, and the materials that exist beyond Earth. Studying meteorites can help us understand the history of our solar system and the processes that shaped celestial bodies.