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Two months after Neil Armstrong landed on the Moon in 1969, a meteor burst into the atmosphere, broke up and scattered over a 35 square kilometer area in Australia. The meteorite was identified as being billions of years older than Earth.
The cosmic element provides valuable insight into the early formation of the Solar System. Due to its unique composition and age, this remarkable discovery, called the Murchison Meteorite, has attracted the attention of scientists globally.
The Murchison meteorite fell in the city of Murchison, 160 km north of Melbourne, Australia. This rocky meteorite weighing about 100 kg broke and scattered as soon as it entered the Earth’s atmosphere. Scattered pieces fell over a vast area. However, its basic structure remained.
The meteorite contains “pre-solar particles,” which are tiny crystals that formed in stars before the Sun and Earth existed. These grains, including micro-diamonds and silicon carbide, are more than 4.6 billion years old, predating our solar system. This makes the Murchison meteorite a window into the early days of the universe.
Dermot Henry, head of science at the Museum Victoria Research Institute, explained the importance of this meteorite.
“I think it’s amazing to hold a rock that has tiny crystals in it that is probably three or four billion years older than our planet,” Dermot told Museum Victoria.
The meteorite is rich in organic compounds, including amino acids essential for life. Scientists believe that these molecules formed in the harsh conditions of space may have contributed to the beginning of life on Earth. Its distinctive odor, caused by hydrocarbons, further highlights its extraterrestrial origin.
How do meteorites contribute to science?
The study of meteorites provides important data on how stars evolve and form elements in the periodic table. Its preservation has allowed scientists to continue making new discoveries more than 50 years after its collapse.
“Meteorites are the cheapest form of space exploration because the rocks come to us,” Dermott said.
“In places with low rainfall, meteorites can probably be well preserved for up to 30,000 years,” Dermott said.
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