A meteorite has just been discovered in France. It comes from the asteroid 2023 CX1, which fell into the Earth’s atmosphere making a beautiful shooting star. If you found a meteorite, what would you do?
A fragment of the asteroid that fell in France has already been found. It was a student, Loïs Leblanc, who discovered this first meteorite on February 15, 2023, in Seine-Maritime. The search for pieces from the very bright asteroid 2023 CX1 continues, because it is not impossible that other pieces have fallen in France. The object comes from very far away: the asteroid moved between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
Do you want to look for meteorites too? It’s possible, but there are some tips to know when discovering such an object. Vigie-Ciel, the participatory science program of the National Museum of Natural History, has given some recommendations for the search for meteorites. You can also contact Vigie-Ciel to inform them of such a discovery.
How do I know if I have found a meteorite?
Several clues allow you to know if you are indeed in the presence of a meteorite, that is to say an object of extraterrestrial origin:
- The surface of the object is black: this thin dark film is the fusion crust of the meteorite, which confirms that it has passed through the Earth’s atmosphere.
- If the object is broken, we can see the inside of the meteorite, often brighter than this surface.
- A meteorite has flat faces, separated by sharp, rounded (not sharp) edges, because it is the result of the fragmentation of a larger object.
- The presence of metal is also a clue: it can be seen in the form of shiny grains.
Be careful before touching a meteorite
Wait a bit before moving the object and manipulating it: first write down the coordinates of your find and take a picture of it where it is. Then, to touch the rock, wear gloves or use a clean plastic bag.
Attention, Above all, do not bring a magnet near the meteorite, because you could alter the magnetic properties of the rock. ” During its formation (or even its subsequent journey through the solar system), this block was able to record magnetic information, frozen in matter, and very important for scientists. Passing a magnet over them erases them », summary the scientific mediator Pierre Henriquet on Twitter.
Also beware of burn hazard… but, no heat, cold, also warns Pierre Henriquet. If the meteorite has just fallen, it is still extremely cold (around −30° C) and it takes time for it to warm up and be safe to handle.
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