Why was 1969 a special year for meteorites?
In 1969 the Allende and Murchison meteorites fell, Japanese scientists found the first concentration of meteorites in Antarctica, and Apollo 11 brought back Moon rocks.
The year 1969 was remarkable for meteorite science, with several events that transformed the field.
Allende, February. On 8 February, the Allende meteorite fell in Mexico, delivering more than 2 tonnes of a carbonaceous chondrite rich in CAIs. It provided material for studies of the early Solar System, including dating the oldest solids and discovering evidence of aluminium-26.
Apollo 11, July. On 20 July, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the Moon and collected about 21.5 kilograms of samples, returned to Earth on 24 July. Laboratories worldwide prepared to analyse lunar samples with new, clean techniques and sensitive instruments. These laboratories were ready for meteorites too.
Murchison, September. On 28 September, the Murchison meteorite fell in Australia, providing about 100 kilograms of a CM carbonaceous chondrite. It became famous for its amino acids and organic compounds.
Antarctic meteorites, December. A Japanese Antarctic research expedition found nine meteorites on blue ice near the Yamato Mountains. Scientists realised that the ice concentrates meteorites, which opened up Antarctica as the richest source of meteorites on Earth. Tens of thousands have been collected since.
The combined effect. In one year, scientists gained large quantities of primitive meteorite material, samples from the Moon, new laboratory techniques and a new source of meteorites. Many of the most important discoveries of the following decades, including the ages of the oldest solids, the presence of organic molecules and the identification of lunar and Martian meteorites, can be traced back to 1969.