How do Meteorites appear? Why are Meteorites important to us?
What Do Meteorites Look Like?
Meteorites seem like Earth rocks, but their exteriors are typically burnt, which can make them appear shiny.
The outer surface of the meteorite melts while passing through the atmosphere and forms this "fusion crust."
Meteorites can be divided into 3 major types of categories: 1 - "Irons," 2 - "Stonys," and 3 - "Stony-irons."
Most of the meteorites discovered long after they fall are "irons", despite the fact that most of those that hit Earth are "stony".
"Iron meteorites" are heavier and more easily distinguished from Earth rocks than "stony meteorites".
Iron Meteorite - An iron meteorite from the Barringer Meteorite Crater is shown in the following image.
Why Are Meteorites Important to Us?
Meteorites that fall to Earth are made up of some of the original, diverse materials that formed the planets billions of years ago.
We can discover more about the early conditions and processes in the solar system's history by studying meteorites.
These include the age and composition of various planetary building blocks, the temperatures attained at asteroids' surfaces and interiors, and the extent to which materials were shocked by impacts in the past. (Source - NASA)