A closer look at space rocks

METEOR
ITES.

Some space rocks weigh more than a truck. Others have traveled through space for billions of years before reaching Earth.

20 of the largest meteorites 01 / 05

01 / The dataset

Not all space rocks are created equal.

What can the 20 largest recorded meteorites tell us about the objects that reach our planet?

20

Largest meteorites in this dataset

401

Years between the earliest and latest recorded years in this selection

This presentation explores the recorded mass, composition, and discovery circumstances of the selected meteorites. Recorded years may represent the year a meteorite was found or fell, rather than when it formed.

02 / What's inside?

Most of the biggest are made of iron.

85%

17 of the 20 meteorites in this selection are classified as iron meteorites.

Iron meteorites 17 / 20

Other classifications 3 / 20

Iron meteorites contain substantial amounts of iron and nickel. The proportions here describe this selected group of 20, not all meteorites that fall to Earth.

03 / How we encounter them

Most were found, not witnessed falling.

Meteorite records distinguish between objects observed falling to Earth and those discovered later.

18

Recorded as found

2

Recorded as witnessed falls

A “fall” means the meteorite's arrival was observed. A “find” means it was discovered after reaching Earth. These counts reflect the 20 records selected for this story.

04 / Giants on Earth

The difference in mass is enormous.

Hoba

60,000 kg

The largest known intact meteorite, discovered in Namibia.

Vaca Muerta

3,828 kg

A large stony-iron meteorite from Chile.

1575

1976

Recorded years across this selection.