Meteoritics

Meteoritics Is The Scientific Study Of Meteorites. The Discipline Includes The Composition, Structure, Formation, Age, And History Of Meteorites, As Well As The Interaction Between Meteorites And The Environment In Which They Are Found. This Field Of Study Is Also Strongly Linked To The Study Of Asteroids And Interstellar Dust. Most Meteorites Found On Earth Are Believed To Originate From Asteroids, Small Rocky Bodies Orbiting The Sun. About 34,000 Known Meteorites Have Been Found On Earth Since Their Discovery In The 15th Century. A Majority Of These Meteorites Are Composed Of Metals And Stone. Meteorites Can Range In Size From Millimeters To Several Meters. Meteorites Are Studied By Scientists For A Variety Of Reasons. Firstly, They Provide An Excellent Opportunity To Study Processes That Are Inaccessible To Scientists On Earth. Secondly, They Provide A Closer Look Into The Formation Of Our Solar System, As They Are Made Up Of Materials That Existed Before The Formation Of The Planets. Thirdly, The Study Of Meteorites Can Give Us Insight Into The Formation Of Life On Earth, As Certain Materials Found In Meteorites May Have Been Critical In The Development Of Life. The Study Of Meteorites Also Allows Us To Understand The Origin Of Certain Rocks And Minerals On Earth. This Understanding Can Be Used To Identify Minerals And Rocks Found On Earth And Even On Other Planets That Have Formed In Similar Ways As Those Found In Meteorites. Additionally, Meteorites Can Provide An Indication Of The Temperature, Pressure, And Stress That Created Their Compositions. Meteorites Can Also Be Used To Study Astrobiology. This Involves Looking At The Composition Of Meteorites For Clues As To The Building Blocks Of Life, And If And How They Might Have Been Transported From The Far Reaches Of The Solar System. In 2020, For Example, Scientists Studying A Meteorite Found Evidence Of Both Organic Molecules And Amino Acids, Building Blocks Of Life, That Indicate The Potential For Life Beyond Earth. Meteorites Have Been Studied For Centuries, And The Research Conducted Has Greatly Contributed To Our Knowledge Of Asteroids, Interstellar Dust, And The Formation And Evolution Of The Solar System. The Study Of Meteorites Is A Great Opportunity For Us To Learn More About The Universe And Its Origins.