The science that studies meteorites is called meteoritics.
This specialized field focuses on the analysis and classification of meteorites, which are fragments of asteroids, comets, or other celestial bodies that survive their passage through Earth's atmosphere and impact the surface. Meteoritics is distinguished from other earth and planetary sciences by its emphasis on extraterrestrial materials and their implications for understanding the solar system's formation and evolution.
Meteoritics involves a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating aspects of geology, chemistry, physics, and astronomy. Researchers in this field analyze the mineralogical and isotopic composition of meteorites to gain insights into the early solar system's conditions. This includes studying chondrites, which are stony meteorites containing small spherical inclusions called chondrules, and achondrites, which are differentiated meteorites that have undergone melting and recrystallization.
Unlike traditional geology, which primarily focuses on Earth's processes and materials, meteoritics provides a direct link to the broader cosmos. It offers clues about the primordial matter from which planets formed, the processes that led to planetary differentiation, and the history of solar system bodies. By examining isotopic anomalies and organic compounds in meteorites, scientists can also explore the potential for life's building blocks to have been delivered to Earth via these celestial messengers.
Meteoritics is supported by institutions like the Meteoritical Society and research facilities such as NASA's Johnson Space Center. Publications like 'Meteoritics & Planetary Science' and 'Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta' are key resources for the latest findings in the field. As a bridge between earth sciences and astronomy, meteoritics continues to expand our understanding of the universe and our place within it.
