Photo credit: www.yahoo.com
Origin Story
Recent research has revealed that a significant majority of meteorites entering Earth’s atmosphere originate from only three distinct asteroid families. These families are the remnants of collisions that took place millions of years ago, forming groups of space debris now scattered throughout the solar system. According to a new study, published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics, and supported by two additional papers in Nature, approximately 70 percent of meteorites that survive their fiery descent to Earth are linked to just three young asteroid families.
These families—Karin, Koronos, and Massalia—were formed between five and 40 million years ago from significant impacts in the main asteroid belt of our solar system. Notably, the Massalia family is responsible for a striking 37 percent of the meteorites identified by researchers.
This discovery highlights an intriguing pattern that may assist scientists in tracing the origins of asteroids and other extraterrestrial materials that might pose a risk to Earth.
Asteroid Ancestry
Young asteroid families arise from major collisions, primarily occurring in the asteroid belt. The debris created from these events can travel vast distances at high velocities, with some fragments eventually reaching Earth after navigating hundreds of millions of miles through space.
Employing advanced computer simulations alongside comprehensive telescopic surveys, researchers have successfully mapped the origins of a substantial number of these meteorites.
Historically, only about six percent of meteorites were traced back to well-known celestial bodies like the Moon, Mars, or Vesta, which is one of the largest objects within the asteroid belt. The origins of the remaining 94 percent remained largely unknown. However, the new findings indicate that researchers have now identified the origins of over 90 percent of meteorites.
The research team is now focused on uncovering the origins of the remaining ten percent by investigating other young asteroid families that have formed within the last 50 million years.
More on asteroids: Mysterious “Fifth Force” of Physics Could Be Influencing Asteroids Near Earth
Source
www.yahoo.com