Educational Science

World's largest Martian meteorite goes on display

The largest piece of Mars ever to fall to Earth is being displayed for the first time. The hefty chunk of Mars weighs 32 pounds (14.5 kilograms) and measures 10 inches (25 centimeters) across at its widest point. It was unveiled Wednesday (Sept. 1) at the Maine Mineral and Gem...

World's oldest meteor crater isn't what it seems

The world's oldest meteor impact crater is not a crater at all, say scientists of a new study suggesting natural forces put the giant indent into Earth's surface. But the jury is still out. The wannabe crater, known locally as the Maniitsoq structure, is located 34 miles (55 kilometers) southeast...

B.C. woman nearly hit by meteorite that crashed through bedroom ceiling: 'I've never been so scared in my life' https://t.co/eYSMYzlpqkOctober 12, 2021 See more A woman in Canada narrowly missed being struck by a meteorite that crashed through her roof and landed on her pillow. Ruth Hamilton, a resident of...

Fireball meteor burns up over South Florida

A sparkling fireball zoomed across the sky near West Palm Beach, Florida on Monday night (April 13), and local news teams and home security systems caught footage of its dramatic descent. @CoralTap Just saw this in the sky from Parkland at 10:16PM. #Meteor pic.twitter.com/E1rqXUbku8April 13, 2021 See more The meteor...

How to watch the Quadrantid meteor shower this week

Of the 10 biggest annual meteor showers, just two could produce over 100 per hour: the December Geminids and the January Quadrantids, due to peak Monday (Jan. 3). Every year, Earth briefly encounters the Quadrantid meteor shower in early January. Using constellations as a guide, Quadrantid meteors, or Quads, appear...

How to watch the peak of the Perseid meteor shower this week

Get ready: The Perseid meteor shower peaks on Thursday (Aug. 12), and it has the potential to put on a good show. Unlike in 2020, when the annual meteor shower coincided with a quarter moon, this year's peak will occur just four days after the new moon. That means skywatchers...

How to watch shooting stars in the Perseid meteor shower tonight

If you'd like to wish upon a shooting star, the Perseid meteor shower — a celestial show that starts tonight (July 14) and lasts until mid-August — might be your best bet. Every summer, from July 14 to Aug. 24, the Northern Hemisphere is blanketed with a gleaming barrage of...

Flashing meteor that exploded over Norway landed somewhere in a nearby forest

The hunt for fragments of an unusually large meteor that lit up the skies over Norway on 25 July has begun. The meteor awakened awestruck residents of the country's capital city, Oslo, with the sound of a large explosion. Footage shows the fireball from the meteor streaking across the sky...