This page will be constructed over the coming weeks. However, it will continually be updated and changed, so keep coming back. (Still under construction) Introduction to Meteorites.Firstly, what is a meteorite? A meteorite is basically a rock that originated somewhere in our solar system. Somehow that rock has found its way towards Earth and fallen through our atmosphere. Most of the time these rocks will completely burn up in our atmosphere (we call these meteors or shooting stars), however, sometimes pieces are large enough to survive and reach the Earth. When a rock reaches Earth, we call it a meteorite. There are lots of different types of meteorites, but basically there are stony types, iron types and some that are a bit of both. Most originate from the asteroid belt, however there are a few rare ones that have come from the Moon and even Mars! What do they look like?For this part, I am going to need some pictures! I'll take a break for the next week and gather a few images of typical meteorites. (Sorry the pictures are not here yet, but we have been very busy in December, with the comet!) There is also an excellent site called fallingrocks.com which has pictures and information about meteorites. What do I do if I Think I Found One?This part will also be added to, however, in short, it depends on where you live. In some parts of Australia, meteorites are owned by the state. In other parts they belong to the finder or landowner. We can advise you on this aspect. It is also important to note that you need a permit to export any Australian meteorite. However, we can offer assistance in verifying any suspected meteorite. See our meteorite studies page for verification services.
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