Page 50 - (DK) Eyewitness - Mars

Meteorites from Mars

Scientists have found and closely studied a number of rocks
believed to have come to Earth from Mars. Hundreds of millions
of years ago, asteroids or comets crashed down on Mars and sent
shattered rock flying. The planet’s weak gravity allowed some
pieces of rock to escape and drift through space. After many
millions of years, a few were captured by Earth’s gravity and pulled
downward. They sped through the thick atmosphere as meteors, and
MARS TO CALIFORNIA many burned up from heat caused by friction. Others survived to hit
This meteorite was one of two
found near Los Angeles in the Earth’s surface. These are termed “meteorites”—space rocks that have
1970s. Weighing just over half a
pound (245 g), it was first reached Earth. Meteorites from Mars are found mainly in Antarctica and
identified in 1999 as having Africa. At least one Martian meteorite shows signs of having been in
come from Mars. By then,
meteors from 14 places on Earth liquid water long ago, and some scientists suspect that it may contain
had been identified as Martian, tiny fossilized life-forms.
including one originally found
in France in 1815.

BLASTED ON ITS WAY
A meteor slams onto Mars, firing
shattered rocks into space, where
they drift away. Countless such
planetary rocks are floating in
space, holding geological secrets
that tell about their distant worlds.
Some, perhaps, may even contain
microscopic fossilized life-forms.
When rocks from Mars fall to
Earth, most burn up, but several
that reached the surface have
been discovered.

Meteorite from
Mars entering
Earth’s atmosphere

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