RELATED ARTICLE: Erg Chech 002: 4.6 Billion Year Old Meteorite Shed Light on the Evolution of the Solar SystemĬheck out more news and information on Meteorite in Science Times. Experts said that studying meteorites like the Winchcombe meteorite could give insights into the chemical feedstock that promoted life on Earth.Īnalysis of the meteorite suggests that it entered the top of the Earth's atmosphere on February 28, weighing 110 to 132 pounds (50 to 60 kilograms). Moreover, the carbon content on the space rock is in the order of a few percent, fascinating researchers as they search for the origins of life.
According to theories, the bombardment of asteroids and meteorites could have delivered the water to the oceans. Scientists have to measure and compare its specific isotopic or atomic signature to the water found on Earth. But scientists said that further research is needed to confirm this claim.Īccording to BBC News, Winchcombe is mostly made up of phyllosilicates or clays that result from silicate rocks as they come into contact with water, as the H2O molecules bound up to these minerals. The extremely rare space rock contains water in its atomic signature, similar to the water found on Earth. Winchcombe Meteorite Might Hold the Key to the Origins of Life in Space It fell on a spectacular orange and green fireball that streaked across the sky as seen from home security cameras, which made it easier for scientists to track its exact location.Īll pieces of the meteorite are now transferred to the Natural History Museum, where scientists could conduct studies on it to give them insight into how life on Earth began.ĪLSO READ: Scientists Identified Space Rock Responsible for the Water on Earth Ashley King, a researcher in Natural History Museum, told the BBC World Service that the meteorite formed at the start of the Solar System, which serves as a time capsule that holds the secret to the building blocks of the Solar System.Īccording to the Daily Mail, the Winchcombe meteorite is the first meteorite to be recovered in the United Kingdom for 30 years. Its classification in the society's bulletin database tells its story and process of retrieval, as well as details from cameras that observed it, eyewitnesses that saw it fall, and its chemistry.ĭr. Winchcombe Meteorite is a dark gray to black space rock and is considered to be a 'Mighei-like' meteorite, which is related to one of the oldest and most primitive types of meteorite available that was found in Ukraine in the late 19th century. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) Winchcombe Meteorite: The First Meteorite Recovered in the UK for 30 Years The Natural History Museum re-opens to the public on Monday 17th May. The meteorite is a rare type, the first to fall in 30 years. The streak test: Take an unused ceramic tile and scratch the rock sample vigorously against the reverse, unglazed side of the tile.The Winchcombe meteorite sits on display at the Natural History Museum on May 13, 2021, in London, England.The magnet test: A true meteorite will show a reasonably strong attraction to a magnet.A true meteorite will leave only a faint streak. Once you have your finds safely back home, you can run some quick and easy tests yourself to check if any of them are meteorite candidates: If the sample leaves a reddish brown streak, then the rock is probably hematite (another common meteor-wrong). Sadly, not all rocks that are drawn to a magnet will be true meteorites, and in some parts of the country, iron-rich basalt (a very common Earth rock) will cause many false alarms. If using a meteorite cane, keep any rocks that easily cling to the magnet for inspection later, and remember where you found them – the location of a meteorite find is particularly important later, for mapping the meteorite "strewnfield". Rusty and still covered with mud, this little meteorite has been ground flaton one corner, exposing the bright flakes of metal mixed within the stone.Bright metal flakes are very often the key to identifying a newly found meteorite.
They are rarely much larger than a small melon, and with this in mind, you should keep your eyes trained for small rusty looking rocks, perhaps even down to pea-sized. Meteorites come in all shapes and sizes but the small pieces greatly outnumber the larger pieces.
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