Little is known, but many celestial objects pass through Earth’s atmosphere every day to end their course at sea or on land. Fortunately, falls from extraterrestrial matter are harmless to mankind. It is not uncommon for small meteorites to be discovered, and particularly in Antarctica, thanks to its desert-like expanses and the whiteness of its soil, fertile soil can be found. But the latest discovery made by a team of scientists there is somewhat unusual. As reported by Futura-Sciences, a meteorite weighing more than 7 kg was found.
A team of four scientists went meteorite hunting after examining satellite data to identify the best research locations. They were able to find five meteorites, including this one weighing 7.6 kg. An unusually heavy weight compared to the meteorites discovered in this area. In the 20th century, of the 45,000 meteorites found in Antarctica, only 100 were this size.
Important discoveries for scientific research
The meteorites discovered must now be the subject of studies within the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences. In addition to these five meteorites, scientists have also discovered sediment that may contain micrometeorites. These samples, which are being analyzed at multiple institutions, could provide valuable information about meteorites. Analysis of the 7.6 kg fragment will be invaluable as its size will likely provide more scientific data, particularly on the formation of the solar system.