Study Suggests Rare Meteorite May Indicate Existence of a Lost Protoplanet
Rare Meteorite May Be Evidence of a Lost Planet That Never Fully Formed

Image: Gizmodo
Researchers studying the angrite NWA 12774, found in the Sahara Desert, propose it could be a remnant of a long-lost protoplanet in our solar system. The meteorite's unique chemical structure and formation conditions suggest it originated from a much larger parent body than typical asteroids.
- 01NWA 12774 is an angrite meteorite, believed to be around 4.56 billion years old.
- 02The meteorite's chemical composition indicates it formed under high pressure, suggesting it came from a larger body than a small asteroid.
- 03Experiments revealed that the crystals within NWA 12774 would require at least 17.5 kilobars of pressure to form.
- 04The size of the parent body could be as large as Mars, based on the meteorite's crystal characteristics.
- 05Angrites like NWA 12774 provide insights into the early solar system's planetary formation processes.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
The angrite meteorite NWA 12774, discovered in the Sahara Desert, has led researchers to speculate about the existence of a lost protoplanet in our solar system. In a study published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters, scientists found that the conditions required for the meteorite’s formation could not have occurred in smaller asteroids. Instead, its unique chemical structure suggests it originated from a much larger parent body, potentially as large as Mars. This conclusion was supported by experimental data indicating that the crystals within NWA 12774 required a pressure of at least 17.5 kilobars to form, far exceeding the conditions present in typical small asteroids. The findings underscore the importance of angrites in understanding the early solar system, as they preserve a record of planetary formation processes. Researchers believe that many more meteorites could hold similar clues about the solar system's history.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Reader Poll
What do you think about the possibility of lost protoplanets in our solar system?
Connecting to poll...
More about University of Colorado Boulder

NASA Declares MAVEN Mars Orbiter Mission Concluded After Over a Decade of Research
Boulder Daily Camera • Jun 4, 2026
NASA's MAVEN Mission Concludes After Over a Decade of Martian Research
The Washington Times • Jun 3, 2026

NASA's Maven Spacecraft Declared Inactive After Extended Silence
New York Post • Jun 3, 2026
Read the original article
Visit the source for the complete story.





