Meteorite that hit house is older than Earth, scientists say

A meteorite that crashed into a house within the US is older than planet Earth, scientists have stated.

The object flew by way of the skies in broad daylight earlier than exploding throughout the state of Georgia on 26 June, Nasa confirmed.

Researchers on the University of Georgia examined a fraction of the rock that pierced the roof of a house within the metropolis of McDonough.

They discovered that, based mostly on the kind of meteorite, it’s anticipated to have fashioned 4.56 billion years in the past, making it roughly 20 million years older than Earth.

Residents in Georgia and close by states reported a whole bunch of sightings and a loud booming noise when the fireball tore by way of the skies.

The rock shortly diminished in dimension and pace, however nonetheless travelled no less than 1 km per second, going by way of a person’s roof in Henry County.

Multiple fragments that struck the constructing had been handed over to scientists, who analysed their origins.

“This particular meteor that entered the atmosphere has a long history before it made it to the ground of McDonough,” Scott Harris, a geologist on the University of Georgia, stated.

Using optical and electron microscopy, Harris and his crew decided the rock was a chondrite – probably the most ample kind of stony meteorite, according to Nasa – which meant that it was roughly 4.56 billion years outdated.

The dwelling’s resident stated he’s nonetheless discovering items of house mud round his dwelling from the hit.

The object, which has been named the McDonough meteorite, is the twenty seventh to have been recovered from Georgia.

“This is something that used to be expected once every few decades and not multiple times within 20 years,” Harris stated.

“Modern technology, in addition to an attentive public, is going to help us recover more and more meteorites.”

Harris is hoping to publish his findings on the composition and pace of the asteroid, which is able to assist to grasp the specter of additional asteroids.

“One day there will be an opportunity, and we never know when it’s going to be, for something large to hit and create a catastrophic situation. If we can guard against that, we want to,” he stated.