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Curator's Choice

Jo Dunlop - Collection Care Co-ordinator, East Ayrshire Leisure

Meteorite

Description:

Meteorites are pieces of asteroids, comets and other planets which have fallen to Earth. They are remnants of the formation of the Solar System, and can be up to 4.5 billion years old.

 

Every day, a few hundred tons of space debris crashes into the Earth's atmosphere. Most pieces are very small and burn up, causing a shooting star or meteor. Only the largest bits reach the Earth, and most of these hit the ocean.

 

This meteorite is made mostly of iron and nickel, and has been smoothed and pointed at the ends as it became heated in the atmosphere. It was found in Chile, South America.

Materials/Media:
iron, nickel
Dimensions:
length 72mm
Source:
The Dick Institute
Digital Number:
EANH007n
Copyright:
East Ayrshire Council