Lunar meteorite

Lunar meteorites are meteorites whose origin is the moon. They were knocked out in each case by the impact of an asteroid or meteoroid from the moon, hurled into space and landed by chance, for example, on Earth or another planet.

History

Although the first lunar meteorite ( Yamato 791 197 ) was found in 1979, the origin of these meteorites from the moon was detected only in the meteorite found in Antarctica in 1981 Allan Hills 81005. By 2006, more than 90 meteorites were discovered by the moon on the earth. By comparing the chemical composition, mineralogy and isotopic abundances between meteorites and lunar samples of lunar rocks, which were taken from the Apollo missions, the moon is clearly backed up as a place of origin.

The lunar meteorites represent a useful complement to the lunar samples were brought by the American and Soviet lunar missions. The lunar samples from the Apollo and Luna missions were collected only from a few localities in the region of the respective landing sites, all of which were on the Earth -facing side of the moon. Although in most cases it is not known from where on the moon, the individual previously known moon meteorites originate, it may be assumed for statistical reasons, but that some also have their origin from the back side of the moon. An accurate determination of the origin for the first time succeeded in Sayh al Uhaymir 169

In the instance Dho 280 was Hapkeit and two others, also found previously unknown iron-silicon mineral phases. Other examples of lunar meteorites are the only 19 grams heavy Calcalong Creek and with 1.4 kg heaviest copy DAG 400

The discovery of the first lunar meteorite led the early 1980s, the resurgence of speculation that there could be meteorites from Mars. In fact, in the same year, the first Mars meteorite was identified. The existence of lunar meteorites on Earth raises the question whether there is, conversely, Erdmeteoriten on the moon. The earth was suspended between its formation 4.5 billion years ago to about 3.9 billion years ago a heavy bombardment by asteroids. Maybe then stones were knocked loose from the earth and transferred to the moon. While even all rocks have been converted from this period by geological processes on Earth, they should have stood on the moon. It has therefore been proposed to start new missions to the moon to look there specifically by one of the rocks of the earth.