Meteors
Researchers Find Rare 17-Pound Meteorite in Antarctic Ice
The polar desert is a prime zone for preserving space rocks dating back to our early solar system
How to Watch the Radiant Geminid Meteor Shower
The spectacle, often one of the best showers of the year, will peak December 13 to 14
Meteorites May Have Brought Water to Earth and Mars
Rare, carbon-containing rocks could have created conditions suitable for life on both planets, two new studies suggest
Oldest Martian Meteorite on Earth Traced to Its Origin on the Red Planet
Researchers used machine learning algorithms to determine which crater on Mars the space rock came from
View a Rare Black Moon This Weekend
The phenomenon will also be marked by a partial solar eclipse
A Huge Black Diamond, Purportedly From Outer Space, Is Now Up for Sale
The gem known as the 'Enigma' is expected to fetch around $7 million at auction, though experts are skeptical of its cosmic origin
Ten Dazzling Celestial Events to See in 2022
Stargazers in North America can look forward to meteor showers, lunar eclipses and a stunning multi-planet lineup this year
Boom Heard in Pittsburgh on New Year's Day Was Likely an Exploding Meteor
The energy released during the blast is as powerful as 30 tons of TNT
What Five Grams of 'Primordial' Stardust From an Asteroid Tell Scientists About How the Early Solar System Formed
Ryugu is a carbonaceous, water-rich space rock with a unique, dark coloration and porous composition
Meteorite Crash-Landed in a Canada Woman's Bed While She Slept
Ruth Hamilton awoke unharmed when the fist-sized space rock landed on her pillows
How to Watch the Perseid Meteor Shower
Known for its 'fireball' meteors, the Perseid shower began on July 14 and will peak in mid-August
Fireball Illuminates Skies Across East Coast of Florida
The asteroid fragment weighed 900 pounds and hit Earth's atmosphere at 38,000 miles per hour
Ancient Lightning May Have Sparked Life on Earth
More than a billion strikes a year likely provided an essential element for organisms
Rare Meteorite Found in U.K. Driveway Could Hold Secrets of the Early Solar System
Thousands of people spotted the fireball on February 28, and more fragments may still be scattered in Gloucestershire
What Antarctic Meteorites Tell Us About Earth's Origins
Each year, Smithsonian scientists collect hundreds of meteorites from Antarctica that reveal details about the origins of Earth and our solar system
How to See the Orionids Meteor Shower Peak Tonight
The meteor shower reaches peak visibility just before dawn on Wednesday morning but will last until November 7
What an Asteroid Could Tell Us About Ancient Earth
Knowing those rocks’ origins will help scientists learn more about the composition of objects in the solar system and asteroid belt
Perseid Meteor Shower Reaches Peak Starting Tonight
The early mornings of August 11, 12 and 13 are the best times to view the annual summer 'shooting star' display
What Is Hotter Than the Sun?
Get the facts from Smithsonian geologist Liz Cottrell in the latest episode of "The Doctor Is In."
Archivists Find the Oldest Record of Human Death by Meteorite
The 1888 historical account is likely the first ever confirmed case of a human being struck dead by an interstellar interloper
