Center for Meteorite Studies, Arizona State University

The largest university-based meteorite collection in the world, founded on the life's work of Harvey Nininger.

Key facts

Where

Tempe, Arizona, United States

Kind

University collection

Visiting

Public gallery or display at a university

Arizona State University founded its Center for Meteorite Studies in 1961, when it bought a large part of the collection of Harvey Nininger, the self-taught American who did more than anyone in the 20th century to find meteorites. Nininger had spent decades travelling the plains, giving talks and offering rewards, and he found or bought hundreds of new meteorites.

The centre has grown into the largest meteorite collection held by any university, with specimens from thousands of meteorites. It is used for teaching and research by planetary scientists at the university and is lent to researchers around the world. A public gallery shows meteorites from every major group, including pieces from the Moon and Mars.

Highlights

• Nininger collection the founding purchase of 1961

Opening times, what is on display and access to research collections change over time, so check with the institution before you visit.