W H AT ' S T H AT, U P I N T H E S K Y ? ?

F U N W I T H S C I E N C E | M A R C H 2 0 1 5

L O O K I N G D O W N O N A S H O O T I N G S TA R

P H O T O F R O M N A S A :

S T O N Y M E T E O R I T EP H O T O F R O M N A S A :

I R O N M E T E O R I T EP H O T O F R O M N A S A :

M O O N M E T E O R I T EP H O T O F R O M N A S A :

N E W M A R S M E T E O R I T EP H O T O F R O M N A S A :

M E T E O R I T E P R O C E S S I N G L A BP H O T O F R O M N A S A :

W H E N C L O S E LY O B S E R V I N G A M E T E O R I T E . . .

• Don't make immediate assumptions about what you see.

• Look for, and describe, different layers.

• Look for, and describe, different patterns.

• Make a guess about what the composition is based on what you already know. Then test it!

M E T E O R C R AT E R ( B A R R I N G E R C R AT E R )P H O T O F R O M N A S A :

M A N I C O U A G A N R E S E R V O I RP H O T O F R O M N A S A :

G O S S E S B L U F F M E T E O R I T E C R AT E RP H O T O F R O M N A S A :

C H I C X U L U B C R AT E RP H O T O F R O M N A S A :

W A R N I N G :

W H AT Y O U A R E A B O U T T O S E E I S N O T A S C I E N T I F I C I M A G E

W H E N S I M U L AT I N G A M E T E O R I T E I M PA C T. . .

• Size of the meteorite is important.

• Angle of impact is important.

• Observe the impact craters when different factors are in play.