Beyond Planet Earth
METEORITES
What can 20 meteorite entries tell us about objects that reach Earth?
20 of the Largest Meteorites
This story looks at the 20 largest meteorites in a NASA meteorite landings dataset. The broader dataset includes recorded meteorites from 1575 onward. These 20 entries are selected by mass, allowing us to compare their composition, discovery status, and recorded year.
| What we compare | What it tells us |
|---|---|
| Mass | How large the recorded meteorites are |
| Classification | What type of meteorite each one is |
| Status | Whether it was found or observed falling |
| Year | When the meteorite was recorded |
Most of the Largest Are Iron
17 out of the 20 largest meteorites are classified as iron meteorites.
Iron meteorites make up most of this list. However, the top 20 are only a small subset of the full dataset, not a representative sample of every meteorite.
Found, Not Seen Falling
Found after landing
Recorded as having fallen
Most entries in this list were found rather than observed falling. This describes the records in the top 20, not all meteorites.
Big Differences in Size
Hoba
Heaviest in the list
Vaca Muerta
Lightest in the top 20
The top 20 recorded years range from 1575 to 1976. Vaca Muerta is a stony-iron meteorite, unlike the iron majority.