Major meteorite discoveries reveal origins of three asteroid families

Recent research has established that about 70% of all known meteor showers can be traced back to three young asteroid families: Karin, Koronis and Massalia. This important discovery is the result of a collaborative effort involving scientists from CNRS, the European Southern Observatory (ESO) and Charles University in the Czech Republic. These families formed during collisions in the main asteroid belt approximately 5.8, 7.5 and 40 million years ago, with the Massalia family responsible for 37% of all meteorite falls.

Identifying the origins of meteorites

Despite the documentation of more than 70,000 meteorites, only about 6% had been definitively identified. related to known celestial bodies, notably the Moon, Mars or Vesta, the largest asteroid in the main belt. The origins of the remaining 94%, mainly ordinary chondrites, were until now largely unknown. The abundance of small fragments from these young families increases the likelihood of collisions between them, which can cause fragments to escape from the asteroid belt and potentially reach Earth.

The methodology behind the discovery

This historic discovery was made possible thanks to a comprehensive telescopic study of the main asteroid families, complemented by advanced computer simulations of their collisional and dynamic evolution. This innovative approach has also facilitated the identification of the origins of carbonaceous chondrites and achondrites, expanding knowledge of meteorite sources beyond the Moon, Mars and Vesta.

Future Research Directions

Thanks to this research, more than 90% of the origins of meteorites have now been identified. However, the sources of the remaining 10 percent are still unknown. The research team plans to continue their research focusing on characterizing young asteroid families that formed less than 50 million years ago to improve our understanding of the origins of meteorites and their impact on Earth.