Exceptional Discovery: 70% of Meteors on Earth from Just Three Asteroid Families
In a groundbreaking revelation that has stunned the scientific community, three recent studies have unveiled the fascinating origins of the meteorites that reach our planet. Each day, Earth receives approximately 44,000 kilograms of extraterrestrial material, with most of it burning up in our atmosphere. However, the fortunate few that make it to the surface have provided invaluable insights for scientists seeking to understand their ancestry.
An international team of researchers, led by the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), the European Southern Observatory (ESO), and Charles University, has made a jaw-dropping discovery: about 70% of the meteorites that impact Earth originate from just three asteroid families – Karin, Koronis, and MassaliaThesefamilieswereformedthroughcosmiccollisionsthatoccurredrelativelyrecentlyinastronomicaltermsaround58million75millionand40millionyearsago
Meteorites are primarily classified into two main categories: chondrites and achondrites. Chondrites are virtually unaltered remnants from the early formation of our solar system, while achondrites originate from differentiated bodies, like planets or asteroids with layered structures (core, mantle, and crust).
Intriguingly, only about 6% of meteorites have been traced back to their sources, including those from Vesta (the second-largest asteroid in our solar system), the Moon, and Mars. The Massalia family, in particular, is a standout, contributing more than 20% of the meteorites that currently fall on Earth.
A study of micrometeoritic debris found in Ordovician limestone revealed that around 466 million years ago, Earth experienced a massive downpour of L chondrite material. This event might have significantly influenced Earth’s climate and could have even played a role in the Ordovician Ice Age and major shifts in biodiversity.
Meanwhile, for near-Earth objects (NEOs) measuring kilometers in size, the majority hail from the Polana and Euphrosyne families. For meteorites made of carbon and measuring meters in size, the Veritas family dominates their population.
Understanding these distributions is crucial for assessing potential asteroid impact threats to Earth in the future.
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Source: Original News Article (linked within the article)
