Can we learn all about the universe without leaving Earth? A bean-sized fragment of a meteorite has sold at auction for more than 120 times the value of its weight in gold.
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The rock from the birth of the Solar System
Can we learn all about the universe without leaving Earth? A bean-sized fragment of a meteorite has sold at auction for more than 120 times the value of its weight in gold.
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Can we learn all about the universe without leaving Earth?
Yes: As technology becomes ever more sophisticated, there will be nothing of significance we will not be able to discover.
No: The universe is infinite and there will always be more for us to discover. We need to travel in search of it.
Or... This meteorite does reveal stunning information about the wider universe. But finding one like this is extremely rare. If we want to learn quicker, we must rely on space exploration as well as studying space rocks on Earth.
Keywords
Special cameras - The UK Fireball Alliance has over 30 cameras in the UK monitoring the sky for meteorites. Sunday's meteorite was picked up by six, as far apart as Cardiff and Cambridge.
Meteorite - A small piece of rock that has broken off an asteroid is known as a meteoroid. If it enters the Earth's atmosphere, most of it will burn up; the rock that remains is a meteorite.
Vapourised - Turned into gas. It can apply to something which starts in either a solid or a liquid state.
Solar System - The Sun and the objects whose movement it controls.
Pristine - Unspoilt. It derives from a Latin word meaning former or original.
Asteroid - A small body in space, made of metal and rock material. Asteroids usually orbit the sun, but if knocked off course they can be drawn into Earth's gravity and fall towards it.
The rock from the birth of the Solar System
Visitante ruidoso: el meteorito produjo un estampido sónico en el sur de Inglaterra. ©Darryl Pitt Glossary
Special cameras - The UK Fireball Alliance has over 30 cameras in the UK monitoring the sky for meteorites. Sunday's meteorite was picked up by six, as far apart as Cardiff and Cambridge.
Meteorite - A small piece of rock that has broken off an asteroid is known as a meteoroid. If it enters the Earth's atmosphere, most of it will burn up; the rock that remains is a meteorite.
Vapourised - Turned into gas. It can apply to something which starts in either a solid or a liquid state.
Solar System - The Sun and the objects whose movement it controls.
Pristine - Unspoilt. It derives from a Latin word meaning former or original.
Asteroid - A small body in space, made of metal and rock material. Asteroids usually orbit the sun, but if knocked off course they can be drawn into Earth’s gravity and fall towards it.