Why are meteorites kept in museums?
Museums keep meteorites safe for scientists to study, now and in the future, and display them so everyone can see real pieces of space.
Museums around the world hold collections of meteorites. Some have thousands! There are several good reasons for this.
For science. Scientists need meteorites to study. Museums keep them carefully, in dry and clean conditions, so they do not rust or get damaged. When a scientist wants to study a particular meteorite, the museum can lend a small piece. New instruments are invented all the time, so a meteorite collected 200 years ago might reveal new secrets today.
For everyone. Museums put meteorites on display so that everyone can see real pieces of asteroids, the Moon and Mars. Some museums even have meteorites you are allowed to touch.
For history. Some meteorites are famous for their stories, such as the one that fell at Ensisheim in France in 1492, or the one that crashed into a car in Peekskill, USA, in 1992. Museums keep these stories alive.
For safekeeping. A meteorite in a museum is less likely to be lost or broken. Museums keep records of where every meteorite came from, how much it weighs and what kind it is.
For learning. Museum experts help people who think they have found a meteorite, and teach visitors about space.
Next time you visit a natural history museum, look for the meteorites. They might be in a gallery about rocks, minerals or space.