A new study published in Nature Astronomy has found that most meteorites on Earth are not made of carbon-rich materials. Despite being abundant in our solar system, these rocks only comprise 4% of the meteorites recovered on Earth’s surface. Researchers analyzed nearly 8,000 impacts and 540 potential falls from around the globe to understand this disparity.
The team discovered that carbonaceous asteroids break apart during their passage near the Sun due to repeated heating. This process eliminates the possibility of these meteoroids reaching Earth’s surface intact. However, only a few hardy carbon-rich asteroids can survive the intense heat of the Sun and atmospheric burnup during entry.
Carbon-rich meteorites are valuable for scientists as they offer a unique chance to study some of the oldest material in our solar system. Despite this, the rarity of these rocks limits the accuracy of current research on their origins. The study suggests that if astronomers want to gain a comprehensive understanding of carbon-rich materials, they need to consider those asteroids that failed to survive their journey to Earth.
These findings highlight the challenges faced by scientists studying meteorites and underscore the importance of considering alternative perspectives when interpreting data from space.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/most-carbon-rich-asteroids-never-make-it-to-earth-and-now-we-know-why-2000588954