Ancient Planet Fragments Discovered in Sahara Desert
Scientists Find Chunk of Lost Planet in Desert
Image: Futurism
Researchers have identified fragments of a lost planet, potentially the size of the Moon or Mars, from a meteorite found in the Sahara Desert. This discovery offers insights into a distinct evolutionary path of planetary formation in our solar system's early history.
- 01The meteorite, named Northwest Africa 12774, is an angrite, a rare type formed shortly after the solar system's inception.
- 02The parent body of the meteorite may have had a diameter between 1,118 and 2,050 miles, comparable to the Moon.
- 03The study indicates that the materials forming this ancient planet differ fundamentally from those of Earth and Mars, suggesting a unique evolutionary pathway.
- 04The meteorite's crystals retained sharp edges, indicating it formed near the surface of a large body under immense pressure.
- 05Scientists believe there may be many undiscovered meteorites from other protoplanets that could provide further insights into early planetary formation.
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A recent study published in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters reveals the discovery of fragments from a lost planet, potentially as large as the Moon or Mars, found in a meteorite named Northwest Africa 12774 in the Sahara Desert. This meteorite, classified as an angrite, is believed to have formed just millions of years after the solar system began. Researchers, led by Aaron Bell from the University of Colorado, Boulder, found that the meteorite contains minerals indicating it formed under extreme pressure, likely from a large body buried deep underground. The parent body of this meteorite may have measured between 1,118 and 2,050 miles in diameter, suggesting it had a distinct evolutionary path compared to Earth and Mars. The study highlights that many meteorites remain unstudied, indicating the potential existence of more protoplanets that could shed light on the solar system's formation.
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