Can I break a meteorite open to see what is inside?
Please don't. Breaking a meteorite can spoil it for science and hurt you. Experts cut meteorites carefully with special saws when needed.
It is natural to be curious, but breaking a meteorite with a hammer is a bad idea for several reasons.
First, it is not safe. Meteorites are very hard, and when you hit them, sharp chips can fly off and hurt your eyes or hands. Iron meteorites are so tough that a hammer just bounces off.
Second, breaking a meteorite can ruin it. The thin black crust on the outside, the shape and the place where it was found are all clues for scientists. A smashed meteorite loses many of these clues and is much less useful, and much less valuable, too.
Third, you might not know it is a meteorite at all. Many rocks that look like meteorites turn out to be ordinary Earth rocks. An expert can often tell the difference just by looking and using a magnet.
If you want to see what a meteorite looks like inside, visit a museum, where you can often see polished slices with chondrules, metal and crystal patterns. If you think you have found a meteorite, keep it whole and dry, take photos, and ask an adult to contact a museum. If it needs to be cut, an expert will use a special saw and take care to keep the important parts.