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Fragment Named McDonough Crossed the Roof of a House and Revealed an Age Older Than That of the Earth, According to Scientists.
A meteorite that fell on the roof of a house in McDonough, Georgia, surprised scientists by revealing an estimated age of 4.56 billion years.
This means that it would be about 20 million years older than the Earth itself. The impact occurred on June 26, after the rock streaked across the sky like a fireball.
Researcher Scott Harris from the University of Georgia (UGA) analyzed fragments recovered from the residence.
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He stated that the meteorite, named McDonough, originated beyond Mars and is linked to the fragmentation of a much larger asteroid.
Origin in the Asteroid Belt
According to Harris, the meteorite belongs to a group located in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Its origin is believed to be from a fragmentation event that occurred about 470 million years ago. Some of the debris entered orbits that cross the Earth’s path, until coincidentally, a fragment struck the planet.
The NASA Meteoroid Environment Office estimated that the original object was about 1 meter in size and traveled at 47,000 km/h.
The American Meteor Society received over 240 reports of sightings in the southeastern United States, including accounts of a sonic boom.
Impact and Damage
As it entered the atmosphere, the meteorite lost some speed and fragmented, but still had enough energy to cause damage.
Harris compared the impact to the speed of something the size of a .50 caliber grenade traveling across 10 football fields in one second.
The piece that hit the house penetrated the roof, the ceiling, and a ventilation duct.
It left a mark on the living room floor and scattered fragments and space dust, which are still being found by the homeowner. The noise and vibration resembled the discharge of a gun at close range.
Scientific Analysis
Harris used optical and electron microscopy to examine 23 grams of fragments. He classified the meteorite as a low-metallic chondrite, a common rocky type among meteorites but valuable for science.
Research continues at UGA, while other pieces found in the area will be displayed at the Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville.
Rarity and Records
Meteorites are uncommon in Georgia. The McDonough is only the 27th documented in the state’s history and the sixth whose fall was witnessed.
Harris noted that, thanks to technology and public attention, the recovery of meteorites has become more frequent.
Previously, an event like this was expected only once every few decades. Today, it is possible to record several falls within a span of 20 years.
This combination of popular observation and scientific analysis allows for a better understanding of the origin and trajectory of these space rocks, which carry valuable information about the formation of the Solar System.
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