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How to Identify a Meteorite

Think of meteorites as space rocks. These pieces of asteroids, moon and Mars look a lot like the rocks we have on Earth. But meteorites come instead from meteors that break through the Earth's atmosphere and land on the surface. Follow these steps to find out if that rock you're holding is a meteorite.

Instructions

- 1
  Pick it up and get an idea of its weight. Meteorites are more dense than earthbound debris, and therefore can be as much as 3 1/2 times heavier than Earth rocks of a similar size.
- 2
  Feel the surface of the rock. Sharp points and edges of meteorites often melt off as it enters the Earth's atmosphere. This leaves most meteorites with smooth surfaces.
- 3
  Identify the shape. Meteorites tend to be irregularly shaped. Those that reach the ground without rotating can even adopt a conical look.
- 4
  Look for depressions that look like thumbprints. These are called regmaglypts and often appear all over the surface of meteorites. You'll rarely see holes in meteorites.
- 5
  Check to see how your possible meteorite reacts to magnets. Most, although not all, meteorites contain a lot of iron and have an attraction to magnets. See if a refrigerator magnet sticks to it.
- 6
  Grind into a fresh surface of the rock to see if you can see small metal specks. Specks of metal often indicate a meteorite. Unlike Earth rocks, meteorites contain high amounts of metal. However, the appearance of a clear or milky crystal means you have a rock from your own planet.
- 7
  Locate what look like little balls sticking out from the surface. These are called chondrules and are often found on the most common meteorites.

Astronomy