how to find meteorites in your backyard

Witnessed falls typically command higher prices than discoveries. Matching Data to Offline Sources Or any other relevant information about your hunting trip.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'rsscience_com-leader-2','ezslot_21',112,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-rsscience_com-leader-2-0'); [In this image] Examples of labeled collections from Jon Larsens Project StardustImage source: Project Stardust Jon Larsen & Jan Braly Kihles. Make some new friends and compare your micrometeorites to those around the world!Note: They also published a book, In Search of Stardust: Amazing Micrometeorites and Their Terrestrial Imposters, with tons of astonishing pictures of micrometeorites. Essentially, asteroids and meteoroids are very old space rocks, orbiting in our solar system, mainly in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Stony-iron meteorites have an identical composition to nickel-iron meteorites, with a mix of silicates and nickel. Meteorites play a role in Minnesota's mineral wealth. In theory, small pieces of Mercury or Venus could have also reached Earth, but none have been conclusively identified. !Note: You may also find individual neodymium magnet discs or balls. "When I lifted . Blue represents near-Earth asteroids. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'rsscience_com-sky-3','ezslot_32',121,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-rsscience_com-sky-3-0'); What are meteoroid, meteor and meteorite? A meteorite should be very bright, so it should be easy to spot. Thats because direct contact with human skin can lead to contamination with skin oils and other microbes that flourish in our skin. Ann Hodges was the most famous case in the United States in 1954, after she suffered a nervous breakdown. GPS Locator Garmin eTrex Handheld GPS Location Device: You absolutely need one of these. According to the LiveScience website, meteorites can be worth up to $1,000 per gram. The true answer could be a little bit disappointing. It would be ideal if you could buy cheap meteorites on eBay. Meteorites show up best in the dark without any competing light sources like street lamps or headlights. Space rock accidents have been reported in India, raising the question of how common they are. This morning, New York Times op-ed columnist Pamela Paul made another play at becoming the paper's least thoughtful dullard, through the publication of an article titled "In Defense of J.K. Rowling." Sometimes, the valuable rocks in your backyard might come from meteorites rather than occur naturally in the ground. Flow lines are cooled streaks of once-molten fusion crust. It is called a meteorite if a meteoroid survives its fall and reaches Earths surface.4. These calculations are posted on the Internet, usually on the meteorobs or meteorites list," Cooke wrote in an email. Its size could range from small grains to one-meter-wide objects. This often depends on how long ago the meteorite fell. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Big meteorites are few and far between (though there are YouTube videos of them hitting the ground, and sometimes even houses! A rare lunar or Martian meteorite may fetch up to $1,000 per gram, or nearly 40 times the current price of gold. #micrometeorite #micrometeorites #geology #meteorite #space #nature #science". Meteorites have several properties that help distinguish them from other rocks: Density: Meteorites are usually quite heavy for their size, since they contain metallic iron and dense minerals. For more information, contact the park office at (740) 385-6842. There is no need to buy a new one for a higher price. This type of magnet is incredibly strong and can help to quickly locate any hidden meteorites. These types of spherules are the most common type of micrometeorites.Image source: Project Stardust Jon Larsen & Jan Braly Kihles. 5. Meteorites usually have a crust resulting from the high heat generated by the friction encountered as it travels from the atmosphere towards the earth's surface. Neodymium magnet, ideally with a hook to use as a handle, Coarse sieve (opening around 1.5 mm wide, Number 12 or 14 mesh), Fine sieve (opening around 0.4 mm wide, Number 40 or 45 mesh), Plate or shallow dish, water, and dish soap (optional). Get permission A meteorites chances of being discovered are extremely low. Many meteorites lack regmaglypts, also known as thumbprints, so they are not meteorites. The largest fragment discovered from the meteorite that formed Meteor Crater, exhibited at the tourist center in Meteor Crater, Flagstaff, Arizona. How to Find a Meteorite in 5 Steps To start, get permission to keep what you find, find a barren spot like the Mojave Desert or Great Plains, and track down 'dark flight trajectories' from. [In this image] A collection of Micrometeorites.Photos credit: Jan Braly Kihle & Jon Larsen.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'rsscience_com-narrow-sky-1','ezslot_26',115,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-rsscience_com-narrow-sky-1-0'); 18. Kellyco Metal Detectors listed on eBay the price they could get for a pound of metal for $300 or more meaning it could be worth a million dollars. Antarctica, the desert in the northwest of the African continent, and the American Southwest are the best places to hunt meteorites. Go to a museum and familiarize yourself with meteorites. When preparing for your desert hunting trip, Verish recommends packing plenty of water, snake guards and sunglasses; he also warns against going it alone, and advises meteorite hunters to ride out in two vehicles in case one breaks down. Stick to searching dry areas, or take a sample of soil home, allow it to dry, and then use the magnet to try to find micrometeorites. . This will remove the magnetic force on the particles and allow them to fall into the third bag for collection.8. I have a big meteorite rock size of a little bigger than a coconut, wants to know about it thanks. When a meteoroid survives a trip through the atmosphere . Wooden (nonmagnetic) sticks. Enlighten us in the comments! The neodymium should attract any magnetic particles, eventually covering the plastic in a layer of grimy-lookingstuff. What are some other aspects of a meteorite that we didnt mention? How to find: Usually we need to use metal detectors that can search and map big areas at the time to get a better understanding of the grounds. In a world full of rocks, narrowing your search is key. These air bubbles help geologists and archaeologists learn about the history of the rocks, and consequently the area. You can expect to spend about $250 to $450 for a good used detector that will find meteorites. Good, used metal detectors generally cost between $250 and $400. You may want to wear gloves when handling it. Approved. A meteorite? Most meteorites are the stony variety, which only specialists would recognize. We can purchase a lump of mail from the rest of the country. More than one meteorite has been found in a farmer's rock pile, or propping open a screen door.". How would you expect its ratio of potassium-40 and argon-40 to. You'll probably have the most luck in an area that concentrates downpours,. The time it takes for half of the atoms of a quantity of a radionuclide to decay, the half-life, is a common way of representing its decay rate. The longer a meteorite has been on Earth, however, the more the fusion crust wears away, leaving the meteorite a rusty brown color. Sometimes the meteorite can get covered up by shifting dirt or sand. Iron Meteorites For Sale. Many people have been to the desert, or river, or perhaps even their own backyard and found a rock that is unusual. People have occasionally stumbled upon meteorites by chance, but if . Deserts, such as Southern California's Mojave Desert, and icy regions, such as Antarctica, are ideal. Keep it clean and dry, preferably in a Ziplock. Meteorites are rocks from outer space that burn up in our atmosphere and land all over the Earth's surface. Additionally, make sure to purchase the proper equipment, including a meteorite stick, a metal detector, as well as a pickaxe and spade in case you need to dig. Thanks for reading Scientific American. Magnets are frequently found in meteorites, and they stick to them because they contain metallic iron. Its impossible to find minerals in outer space, which consequently means that you cant find any courts or crystallized minerals. No Metal Detector!? "Anytime a person wants to look for meteorites, arrangements with the land owner should be made first. Small pieces of rock or dust that fall into Earths atmosphere from space are referred to as shooting stars. It's a pretty safe bet that any meteorites found on public lands will be yours to keep, Verish said "so just go ahead and meteorite hunt. 10. This article will show you how to become a micrometeorite hunter! Most meteors are made of silicate rock not appreciably different from the rocks you'll find in your backyard, and therefore we won't be looking for these. Be careful not to swallow them, especially if you are teaching young children.2. That is 1.1 per year. Some space rock hunters aren't content to simply look for long-lost meteorites. Most people, when starting to search for meteorites, have only seen photos of freshly-fallen meteorites with pristine black fusion crusts (definition below). 2023 Scientific American, a Division of Springer Nature America, Inc. How Do You Identify a Real Meteorite? Hold the magnet in direct contact with the ground where you want to search and slowly move it around. Unbelievably, 14 tons of space dust falls to earth every single day, so meteors are scattered all over. It was formed when a nickel-iron meteorite (about 160 ft or 50 m across) crashed into the ground 50,000 years ago. Some meteors burn up in the atmosphere and never make it to the surface of the Earth, but some do. Idaho State University wanted to check it out. Here are 10 tips to help beginners find meteorites: Go outside at night. In this case, the magnetic force may not be strong enough to dig them out. Some fall to the surface as identifiable "stones." Most burn up during entry and fall as meteorite dust. Optionally, tie a string around the magnet so you can suspend it as you run it over the ground, rather than crouching down to drag it. Go ahead and put it on your mantle, but please take a moment to share news of your find with scientists. In most cases, meteors are disintegrated by the gases in the atmosphere, resulting in their extinction on the surface. Do I have the right to have the Rock back? Published Nov 3, 2017 5:30 PM EDT. You can cover the end of the magnet with tape before dragging it across the ground if you use it. Search for new arrivals The source of this weeks meteorite incident in India is unknown, but it appears to be a meteorite. You may need to scan hundreds of candidates to find one.The main challenge in the search for micrometeorites in urban areas is to tell the extraterrestrial (not belonging to the earth) particles from the terrestrial (relating to the earth).Many natural or human activities could generate tiny rounded spherical particles that look similar to micrometeorites. Subscribe to our weekly notifications This makes their surface smooth and sometimes shiny, but not in the earthly rocks way. 14. Look for rounded spherical particles. The friction between the meteoroid and the atmosphere creates an extremely high temperature and melts most parts of the meteoroid. In order to protect the fusion crust and external material of the meteorite, its important that you use clean tools instead of your hands. However, meteorites are relatively rare, so the odds are generally not great. Tektites may look similar to volcanic glasses (obsidian); however, their physical characteristics are very different.Image source: wiki, [In this image] Minitektites and microtektites.The smallest spheres are ~1 mm in diameter. Achondrites are the rarest types of meteorites, and they do not attract magnets for the same reason that most earth rocks do not they do not contain iron-nickel metals. An Indonesian man became astronomically rich after a precious meteorite worth nearly $2 million smashed through the veranda of his home. About two thirds of meteorites found in the United States have been found in arid regions of California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Kansas. Sign up to receive news, updates and exclusives from BBC Earth and related content from BBC Studios by email. GoldHunter. 6. There is no definitive answer when it comes to the best magnet for meteorite hunting. When a meteorite with a Nininger number is relatively rare, such as Canyon Diablo iron (Arizona, USA), it becomes more valuable. So, when a new fireball is spotted screeching toward Earth's surface, how do you go about finding the meteorites it deposited along its path? Have all your tools ready. There have been no discoveries of lunar meteorites in the Americas or Europe. When you picture a meteorite, you probably imagine a massive hunk of space rock hurtling its way through Earths atmosphere. [In this image] An unclassified micrometeorite on a finger.Photo credit: Ryan Thompson. Is it solid, without pores, and dense compared to most other rocks in the area? If you can't find the meteorite on the ground, look for a crater. So the impressive collection at Christie's is expected to net big buckslikely over 3.8 million dollars. 166 Likes, TikTok video from chrisfossils (@chrisfossils): "#CapCut micro-meteorites in YOUR backyard! Mineral magnets are not attracted by all meteorites; only meteorites that contain a high concentration of iron (such as iron-rich meteorites) will attract them. Instead, well concentrate on the Goldilocks material that fit through the coarse but not the fine sieve. Early dealers used to mail out newsletters and handmade catalogs to their small customer base. Meteorites large enough to disfigure the earth's surface appreciably when they hit have been rare, but the Meteor Crater at Odessa is at least 500 feet in diameter. because these particles contain certain levels of iron. Usually, these metallic meteorites can be of two types: [In this image] The Tamentit Meteorite was found in Algeria and is now displayed in the National Museum of Natural History in Paris. [In this image] Tucson Meteorite in the Mesa-Arizona Museum of Natural History.It is an iron meteorite that weighed 688 kg (1517 lb. The United States recognizes the legality of owning a meteorite. There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on a number of factors, including where you are looking and how big of a meteorite you are hoping to find. In the same vein as sending a space probe to an asteroid or comet and collecting a sample but infinitely cheaper finding a meteorite whose incoming trajectory is known can reveal fresh information about the structure and composition of a distant region of the solar system. It is possible for a meteorite to be magnetic in addition to having a magnetic field. Though thousands of meteorites have been catalogued already, each new one is a fresh data point, and could contain a key to one of the many unanswered questions about the solar system's formation and evolution. Use a dissecting microscope or magnifier to examine your findings. Youre most likely dealing with a magnetite residue or industrial byproducts. Reserve one of the sandwich bags, optionally marking it with the date and the location of your collection foray. Tourist sites see a lot of foot traffic which means lost money, trinkets, and jewelry. For the last 31 years, it had been left lying in the garden. (Source: Meteorite hunter) In case of a legal dispute, maybe these questions can help: I mean that a piece of meteor. OK, it is not the same meteor. Once the surface of the magnet is covered with particles,. | You can find micrometeorites in your backyard or local parks. This phenomenon is called ameteoror shooting star., [In this image] Ameteorlooks like a fireball with a long tail traveling through the Earths atmosphere and burning out.Image source: cnet. Download our handy worksheet below for tips on how to collect your own space dust, and watch. Iron and nickel are both naturally found in meteorites, and because they are radioactive, these metals form ferromagnetic. Project Stardust Jon Larsen & Jan Braly Kihles, In Search of Stardust: Amazing Micrometeorites and Their Terrestrial Imposters, Join Project Stardust initiated by Jon Larsen, Facebook page of Project Stardust Jon Larsen & Jan Braly Kihle, Book In Search of Stardust: Amazing Micrometeorites and Their Terrestrial Imposters, NASA Center for Near-Earth Objects Study, Some Meteorite Information by Randy L. Korotev, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, What are meteorites? NASA Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science, The Biology of Molds (Moulds) classification, characteristics, structure and types, Facts about Amoeba, structure, behavior and reproduction, Introduction to Cell Culture The Foundation of Biotechnology, The Secret of Bird Feathers Whats a Feather Look Like Under a Microscope?, 6 Science Humor Images That Make You Smile. Black iron oxide is priced at $0.86 per gram on average, while stone meteorites are priced at $0.15 per gram. Personalization: They uncovered $153,150 buried in his backyard stashed in jars and cans! Here is a list of people you can call. It is the responsibility of IMCA dealers to act in a manner that ensures the authenticity of all their products. Most meteoroids are fragments of comets or asteroids. Bess Ruff is a Geography PhD student at Florida State University. When the planets and asteroids formed, they contained a number of different radioactive isotopes, or radionuclides. 11-12, 12-4 p.m. daily. Meteorites, especially iron ones, are more dense than almost anything else you can find. Sometimes, however, a space body like a meteorite invades our space layers and ends up falling from the sky. One of the first things you should test your rock for before deciding that its a meteorite is whether or not it can attract a magnet. By using our site, you agree to our. [In this image] Jon Larsens collection and notebook for Project Stardust.Image source: Project Stardust Jon Larsen & Jan Braly Kihlesif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'rsscience_com-leader-4','ezslot_23',114,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-rsscience_com-leader-4-0'); 16. On summer nights, see a silent shooting star slides on and leaves. Youll probably have the most luck in an area that concentrates downpours, like in gutters or the spots where they empty out. Regmaglypts are likely caused by the severe melting and abrasion of the components of the meteorite as it enters the Earth's . Meteorite crashes also make craters on other planets and moons. Tektites are glass objects created by melting Earth rocks when asteroids crash into the Earth. They are characterized by the presence of small, round spheres of minerals known as chondrules. For folks like Robert Ward, a professional meteorite hunter who last month found a piece of a meteor that was seen crashing through Earth's atmosphere above California the day before, the thrill is finding new arrivals. Why Gun Control Is So Contentious in the U.S. There are, however, meteorites that are magnetic in nature. They are not as rare as magnetic meteorites, so they do not fetch as high of a price. Explain your reasoning. As the oldest and most primitive type of meteorite, these meteorites are prized for their scientific and geological significance. And theyre way more numerous than their big cousins: Approximately 3,000 tonsthats roughly the weight of 47 sperm whalesof micrometeorites smash into the ground each year, compared to a piddling 55 tons of meteorites. Copyright 2012 Lifes Little Mysteries, a TechMediaNetwork company. Here are some things you can to increase your chances of finding a meteorite: Know what meteorites look like--you can start by looking at the pictures here pictures. Its not uncommon for meteorite enthusiasts to purchase both a complete specimen and a slice from the same meteorite. Antarctica is a desert of snow and ice, and its easy to spot a dark, strange rock in space because its so cold. They are too weak! % of people told us that this article helped them. If you are interested in owning one of these space treasures, you can go out and find them. Only 137 of those occurred in North America. It would be very unusual to find a genuine meteorite in anyone's backyard, or front yard. Harness the power of magnetism Among characteristics that identify meteorites are a high specific gravity (especially true for irons); a dark color; and a dark glassy or dull crust if fresh or a rind of iron oxide (rust) if weathered. Since 1900, about 1800 meteorites have been found in North America. Magnets are drawn to meteorites because they have iron in them and can be used as a preliminary sample for meteorite testing. However, if the rock youre suspecting to be a meteorite has vesicles, then its completely out of the question. Surface. For geologists, a bolide is a meteorite large enough to create a crater.Image source: wiki, [In this image] The Moon is covered by countless big and small craters because it lacks the protection of the atmosphere.Image source: Science ABC. To gather meteorite dust from the yard to study materials from outer space. Most people think that meteorites are only found in deserts or hot, arid climates. Observe for . Chondrites are the most abundant type of meteorite and chondrules are not found in earth rocks. See later Are they really from the space? for more discussion. A large number of high-value specimens are sold in extremely small slices, particularly on the moon and Mars. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. In fact, as with all valuable and sought-after items, they are sold illegally and auctioned off. Is the sample magnetic? Tip: If the field is wet (after rain) or too damp, the tiny particles may stick to the ground. Seizing the opportunity to make a wish in your mind. When these materials cooled, they became small blobs of glass that fell back down. I love space, so this is. Learn how to smoothly get things done and solve all kinds of problems with our useful tips and cool tricks, including simple step-by-step instructions for the most accurate results. Despite this, there are few chondrites. Metallic meteorites can be pull out by magnets, and they can be further classified iron meteorites and stony-iron meteorites. In this case, 90% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Because they look so much like common materials, such as lava rocks or slag from a smelting plant, it's easy to misidentify them. 12. All you need is to grab a strong magnet and go hunting.var cid='5391902911';var pid='ca-pub-2969755229433765';var slotId='div-gpt-ad-rsscience_com-box-3-0';var ffid=1;var alS=1002%1000;var container=document.getElementById(slotId);var ins=document.createElement('ins');ins.id=slotId+'-asloaded';ins.className='adsbygoogle ezasloaded';ins.dataset.adClient=pid;ins.dataset.adChannel=cid;ins.style.display='block';ins.style.minWidth=container.attributes.ezaw.value+'px';ins.style.width='100%';ins.style.height=container.attributes.ezah.value+'px';container.style.maxHeight=container.style.minHeight+'px';container.style.maxWidth=container.style.minWidth+'px';container.appendChild(ins);(adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).push({});window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId,'stat_source_id',44);window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId,'adsensetype',1);var lo=new MutationObserver(window.ezaslEvent);lo.observe(document.getElementById(slotId+'-asloaded'),{attributes:true}); [In this image] Jon Larsen was searching for urban micrometeorites on a roof.Image source: Jon Larsen & Jan Braly Kihle. Earth Sciences Earth Sciences questions and answers Imagine you had a meteorite in your backyard that appeared to be a piece material from the early solar system. ISU came to My Dads Home and picked it up. 10. Larger particles (sizes like grains of sand rather than dust, 0.4 mm 1.5 mm) are easier to handle, and they can show a significant variation in morphology. "It helped me realize that the 'meteorite' I found was only a rock, and that meteorites are usually found in bleak, "It helped me know how to recognize if they are true meteorites.". But you can find some tiny pieces of meteors (or micrometeorites) in populated areas, even in your backyard. Thats because the core of the rock is frozen due to the very low temperatures of outer space. Non magnetic meteorites are not worth very much. Before purchasing meteorites, you must do your research; to do so, do your research. Galileo used experiments to show how objects in motion will stay in motion (an early form of Newton's first law), so objects in Earth's atmosphere could conceivably continue to move with the planet o Belief 2: The heavens must be perfect and unchanging. It has also distributed a small souvenir with meteorite dust inside a resin star for incentive. Stony meteorites do not contain iron materials (or very little, in the form of small-scattered grains), so they wont be pulled out by our magnet method. Mar. By In the US, if you find a meteorite on your land, you own it. Streak Test: Scratch your specimen on a ceramic tile. The impact melted and vaporized Earth rocks into the atmosphere. Tektites are not meteorites but have their origin in catastrophic cosmic impacts. What a surprise! But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Contrary to what you might expect, most meteorites are not round. You will see the ice cube that remains will have no edges or points. Meteor vs Meteorite. Thats why we decided to talk about how to accurately identify a meteorite and how to handle it if it turns out to be a real one. Some stardust is even older than the sun, which has traveled farther than anything else on Earth. 3. That is 6.7 per year. "If an accurate trajectory is available, dark flight calculations are performed to figure out where pieces of various sizes may strike the ground. The fractionating makes it much easier to examine the particles in the microscope. Add Tip Ask Question Comment These meteorites are meteorites from a larger body that broke apart millions of years ago and became meteorites. 1. to never miss our coolest articles. Meteorites are often dark in color, so they will stand out in a dark area. You just need to think small. Underground Stolen Money: In 1946, U.S. Army postal inspectors used a military metal detector to search a deceased postal employee's backyard who was believed to have stolen money. This will make it much easier to recall the data later when comparing samples between different hunts in different locations. Happy hunting! Magnifying glass or microscope. These meteorites grew in size and eventually disappeared from the parent body. iPhone 13: What You Should Know about the Pro and Pro Max, Toothpaste Uses that Will Make Your Life Easier, The One Number to Check Before Applying for Social Security, Major Airlines Are Tightening Up Personal Item Policies, 3 Effective Ways to Prevent Burnout and Stay Calm. Content selection, delivery, reporting: Bill Cooke, head of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office, said you need to identify the ground below an incoming meteor's "dark flight" the part of its trajectory after it slows below 3 or 4 kilometers per second, at which point it no longer burns and produces light. Heres how to find them. [In this image] Looking into the Meteor Crater from the north rim. The Brenham Meteorite is a remarkable specimen because it is a type II chondrite, which is a type of meteorite made of calcium-rich rock. Micro, to be exact. This is an unforgettable memory of a camping trip.Do you like to keep that piece of memory physically? Move to a new location to continue your search. Use new plastic bags if you want to keep your findings uncontaminated.11. Sign up to receive Popular Science's emails and get the highlights. Its just $1 per month . That is about 15 per year. Either by having a different color, shape, size, texture, etc. However, if the rock you've found isn't at all close to black or brown in color, then it is not a meteorite. Scientists can tell where meteorites originate based on several lines of evidence. Even fireworks could spread tiny iron oxide particles everywhere. [In this image] The iron filling/ powder is suitable for displaying a magnetic field and exploring the basic concept of the magnetic field.Image source: Amazon. Meteorites are attracted to magnets because they are made mostly of iron and nickel, two metals that are highly magnetic. The color of the streak that it leaves is telling. [In this image] These black magnetic spherules are likely of terrestrial origin. Scoop some of the clean material onto a glass slide and place it under the microscope so you can see it up close. When you find what looks like a meteorite, check it for common meteorite traits such as a metallic shine and small rounded pieces of stone on the surface. Rust or patina We often are asked, "Do meteorites rust?" Meteorites that have been on the Earth for a long time will likely start to rust, or in dry desert environments acquire a patina caused by oxidation. A meteorite can be identified using the following method. Sieves, different mesh sizes6. This means that there are probably lots of micrometeorites right in your backyard or local parks! These meteors fly around the solar system and sometimes collide into other celestial bodies, including the Earth. ", Step 2. Materials Magnet, the stronger the better Good magnifying glass, or microscope Introduction Thousands of tons of meteorites strike the earth every year.