Scientists at the Field Museum and around the world are studying meteorites everyday to find answers to some of the most profound questions about the universe and the origins of our solar system. Meteoritics is the science of meteors, meteorites, and meteoroids. The first step in understanding meteorites and where they come from, is to first identify them as meteorites. Follow this step by step guide to determine whether you have found a meteorite.

The first step in meteorite identification is to look for a 

. Meteoroids enter the Earth’s atmosphere at such rapid speeds that the air around the rock compresses intensely. When air is compressed quickly, the temperature of the air increases. The hot air causes the outside of the meteoroid to melt. This outer layer is so hot that it melts off the rock, exposing a new layer beneath it. A meteoroid can lose most of its mass as it passes through the atmosphere. When it slows down to the point where no melting occurs, the outer layer cools to create a thin glassy coating called a fusion crust.

 of the rock. Is the specimen heavier than a common rock of the same size? Many meteorites contain metal, which makes them significantly heavier than most Earth rocks. 

 What is the rock made out of? Does it look and feel like it is made out of metal? Or does it look like compact rock with small metallic bits on a freshly cut and polished surface? Both of these options could be signs that the specimen is a meteorite. Here's a tip: don’t use magnets to determine if there is metal in your specimen. Magnets destroy much of the preserved natural magnetism in meteorites, which will compromise your research. 

If your rock has a fusion crust, is very dense, and is made out of metal, there is a chance that you have found a meteorite. BUT it could also still be a rock from Earth. So, how do you know for sure? Meteoriticists (scientists who study meteorites) sometimes disagree with each other about their findings and sometimes spend years trying to figure out if a rock is from space. Meteorites are rare and there are many look-alikes called meteor-wrongs. 

Standards for Meteorite Identification Part 1