Start here: Explorer · Ages 10 and upHowardites worksheet

How meteorites get their names

Name:Class:Date:

Key words

Meteorite

A meteorite is a piece of space rock that has survived its fall through the air and landed on Earth.

Nomenclature Committee

The Nomenclature Committee is the group of scientists within the Meteoritical Society that approves official meteorite names and classifications.

Meteoritical Bulletin

The Meteoritical Bulletin is the Meteoritical Society's official record of newly approved meteorites, their names and their classifications.

Classification

Classification is the process of identifying exactly what kind of meteorite a specimen is and giving it an official type and group.

Fall

A fall is a meteorite that people saw coming down and then collected.

Chondrite

A chondrite is a stony meteorite full of tiny round grains called chondrules, and almost unchanged since the Solar System formed.

Choose the right answer

Circle the letter of the right answer.

1. Using the Antarctic naming system, when was ALH 81005 collected?
   • AIn the 1980–81 season
   • BIn the 1981–82 season
   • CIn the year 1905
   • DIn the year 2005
2. What does the 2 in CM2 tell you about Winchcombe?
   • AIt weighs about two kilograms
   • BIt was found in two separate pieces
   • CIt was the second meteorite of the year
   • DWater altered it on its parent body
3. A finder asks for their new meteorite to be named after their dog. What will happen?
   • AIt will be accepted if the finder pays a fee
   • BIt will be accepted if the fall was seen by witnesses
   • CIt will be accepted if the meteorite is large enough
   • DIt will be refused, as names come from places
4. How are meteorites from a dense collection area named?
   • AThe finder's name followed by a year
   • BA random code chosen by a computer
   • CTheir colour followed by a letter
   • DA place name followed by a number
5. Why must a type specimen be kept in a recognised collection?
   • ASo that it is kept dry and does not go rusty
   • BSo that the finder can always ask for it back
   • CSo researchers can study and check it
   • DSo that it can be sold on to collectors

True or false?

Is the answer given right? Tick True or False.

6. A label reads "IIIAB". What does that tell you?

   Answer given: It is in a chemical group of irons TrueFalse

7. Which of these meteorites fell near a town in England?

   Answer given: Winchcombe TrueFalse

Write your answer

Answer in a word or a short sentence.

8. Where does the name of the Yamato meteorites come from?
9. Why does every officially recognised meteorite need its own unique name?
10. Why are many Saharan meteorites given NWA names instead of local place names?

Howardites · free to copy for use in your classroom · answers are on the separate teacher's answer sheet