S&F for you!

Good story mate

I guess these meteorites could be from Mars but there is no conclusive evidence that would say for sure. We don't know what isotopes will be found on other planets except for places we earthlings have been. We haven't been anywhere but the earth, moon, and Mars to test.

Originally posted by consciousgod
I guess these meteorites could be from Mars but there is no conclusive evidence that would say for sure. We don't know what isotopes will be found on other planets except for places we earthlings have been. We haven't been anywhere but the earth, moon, and Mars to test.

Yes, you expanded my thought process here. It might be from Mars, or it might be from another body in the universe with a like makeup of Mars.
Firstly, I was going to say: Wow, so parts of other planets come flying our way? Just didn't know that. What, are these rocks pulled towards the sun but we're in their path? Or some gravitational tug between Earth and Mars as we pass each other? Or just what does cause a rocky planet to fling part of itself away from itself? Does a chunk of Earth occasionally take flight and hit Venus or Mercury? Hmmm...

Which has the higher probability? Rocks mysteriously fell through space or were purposefully transported through space?

no biggy
rocks reach escape velocity by them selves all the time
challenger space shuttles ....not so much

Meteors, shooting stars, asteroids, and yes, even boulders considered small moons that travel along large elliptical orbits can and do often either intersect with Earth or become captured by Earth for a short time. This happens so often one must think the amount of flotsam and jetsam floating around out there must be staggeringly immense considering the size of this galaxy let alone the universe.

To actually KNOW this is from Mars and not just Mars like would be awesome. Otherwise you may hold in your hand some chunk of rock from some distant galaxy from the other side of the universe that traveled through a wormhole for billions of light years to get here. Er.. I'd like to confirm the latter too. At least you can be sure it didn't come from New Jersey.

Originally posted by new_here

Originally posted by consciousgod
I guess these meteorites could be from Mars but there is no conclusive evidence that would say for sure. We don't know what isotopes will be found on other planets except for places we earthlings have been. We haven't been anywhere but the earth, moon, and Mars to test.

Yes, you expanded my thought process here. It might be from Mars, or it might be from another body in the universe with a like makeup of Mars.
Firstly, I was going to say: Wow, so parts of other planets come flying our way? Just didn't know that. What, are these rocks pulled towards the sun but we're in their path? Or some gravitational tug between Earth and Mars as we pass each other? Or just what does cause a rocky planet to fling part of itself away from itself? Does a chunk of Earth occasionally take flight and hit Venus or Mercury? Hmmm...

Mars was hit by something huge millions of years ago, blasting rock into the inner and outer solar system.
They arrive here just like pieces of asteroids.

What do you think all of those Mars probes and rovers have been doing on Mars? They have done extensive geochemistry of martian rock, and therefor, they know they have elemental and isotopic compositions that are similar to rocks and atmosphere gases analyzed by landers. Rocks that form on different planets have unique characteristics that bind them to their origin.

Then, with meteorites from Mars that are already found on on Earth, They have found gas bubbles trapped in these meteorites.

.

NASA: "There seems little likelihood that the SNCs are not from Mars. If they were from another planetary body, it would have to be substantially identical to Mars as it now is understood.

These trapped gases provided direct evidence for a martian origin.

These are the same tests that were done on the new Moroccan meteorite, that provided this news release.

amazing story. 15 pounds is relatively small. wonder how it was "stumbled" upon. agree that it probably should be displayed somewhere for all to see.

just to follow-up, i'd actually like to get my hands on a moon rock! which should be easy after China gets there...wal-mart will be distributing them.