Rare Lunar Meteorites Could Fill Gaps In Moon’s Evolution
Lunar meteorites are being studied as a more representative source of information about the Moon's evolution compared to samples returned by specific spacecraft missions. Scientists note that these meteorites provide a broader geographical sampling of the lunar surface.
Why it matters
These findings improve our understanding of planetary formation and demonstrate the scientific value of naturally occurring space samples.
Lunar meteorites --- literally pieces of the Moon’s surface that have been displaced into Earth or solar orbit and have burned their way through our thick atmosphere --- arrive on our planet’s surface as often overlooked pieces of space rock. But they are extraordinarily valuable as scientific fodder since they offer lunar scientists a precious window onto the Moon’s earliest formation.
In some ways, they scientifically surpass the multitude of lunar rocks thus far returned to Earth by spacecraft. That's because they are thought to originate from literally all over the lunar surface, including the far side.
Even so, only 835 lunar meteorites have been verified as such, representing 0.7% of all meteorites that fall to Earth.
And the most pristine lunar samples still arrive here via robotic or crewed spacecraft.
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