Looking after meteorites, and staying safe

Meteorites are precious pieces of science. In this last beginner lesson you will learn how to treat them, and yourself, with care.

Are meteorites dangerous?

Meteorites are not radioactive in any harmful way and they are safe to look at and hold. The chance of being hit by a falling meteorite is incredibly small. There is only one well-recorded case of a person being injured by a direct hit: in 1954 a meteorite crashed through the roof of a house in Sylacauga, Alabama, USA, bounced off a radio and bruised a woman named Ann Hodges. She recovered.

Even so, there are sensible safety rules. Never lick or taste a rock. Do not try to cut, crush, heat or put acid on a rock to test it. Always wash your hands after handling rocks from outdoors. And never go rock hunting alone: always go with an adult who knows where you are going.

Ask before you collect

Every piece of land belongs to someone, whether it is a farmer, a family, a company, a town or a country. Before looking for rocks, you need permission from whoever owns or looks after the land.

Different countries have different laws about meteorites. In the United Kingdom, a meteorite normally belongs to the owner of the land it lands on. In some other countries, meteorites belong to the government and must be handed in. In Antarctica, only scientific teams may collect them. Nature reserves and protected sites often do not allow any collecting at all.

An adult can help you check the rules before you go. Being honest and asking permission keeps everyone happy and protects important places for the future.

If you find a possible meteorite

If you think you have found a meteorite, here is what to do. First, take a photo of it exactly where it is, with something like a coin next to it to show its size. Write down where you found it, as exactly as you can, and the date.

Try to handle it as little as possible. Pick it up with a clean plastic bag or gloves, especially if it might have fallen recently, because scientists may want to study the tiny traces of chemicals it carries from space. Keep it dry, and do not wash or scrub it.

Then ask an adult to contact a natural history museum, a university or a meteorite expert. If you are lucky enough to find a fresh fall, you might even help scientists discover something new.

Seeing real meteorites

You do not have to find one yourself to see a real meteorite. Many natural history museums display them, and some let visitors touch a large iron meteorite. Ask at the front desk or look for the rocks and minerals gallery.

When you look at a meteorite in a museum, see if you can spot the clues from earlier lessons. Is there a dark fusion crust? Are there thumbprint dents? If it has been cut, can you see shiny metal specks or tiny round chondrules? Does the label tell you whether it was a fall or a find?

Well done for finishing the beginner level! You now know what meteorites are, where they come from, how they fall and how to recognise them. The explorer level will take you deeper.

Did you know?