The Ribbeck meteorite: secrets of a millions of years of celestial body
The Ribbeck meteorite: secrets of a millions of years of celestial body
by B.Z./DPA
A rare natural phenomenon in Brandenburg
In January 2023, a fascinating astronomical event occurred near Berlin: a meteorite, the origin of which goes back to 4.5 billion years, fell on earth. This meteorite, which was given the name "Ribbeck" according to its site, belongs to the extremely rare class of the Aubrites and represents a valuable discovery for scientists.
The discovery of the fragments
The fragments of the 2024 BX1-Sanoid, which burned out on the night of January 21, fell in the Havelland. Scientists and meteorite collectors quickly went in search of the remains after the US space agency NASA announced the entry of the asteroid. However, unexpectedly it turned out that the fragments were not easy to find because they did not have the typical features of meteorites due to their specific mineral composition.
A total of 202 fragments with a weight of 1.8 kilograms were discovered and the stray field extended over an area of 1.5 by 10 kilometers. The special properties of the "Ribbeck" meteorite were examined in more detail by an international research team under the direction of the Institute of Planetology at the University of Münster.
An insight into the chemistry of the meteorite
A remarkable aspect of the examination is the striking smell of the meteorite debris. Scientists announced that the pieces ray intensively according to hydrogen sulfide, which resembles the smell of lazy eggs. This smell was created by chemical reactions between minerals and the moisture, which was generated by snow and thaw. Such chemical changes provide scientists deeper insights into the mineralogy and the properties of the rock.
Significance of the "Ribbeck" meteorite
The study on the composition of the "Ribbeck" meteorite not only leads to understanding the geological processes of the early solar system, but also emphasizes the importance of the Aubrite. Only twelve cases of Aubrites are documented worldwide, they are rich in magnesium and silicon and of great interest in planetary science. Current research suggests that "Ribbeck" plays a special role within this rarity, since it has an unusually high proportion of field late.
A Community Research approach
The cooperation between international scientists teams is crucial for the analysis and understanding of such unique phenomena. The knowledge of the "Ribbeck" meteorite not only shows the challenges of the search for meteorite, but also the importance of a well-founded interdisciplinary discussion in geoscientific and planetology. The results are published in the journal "Meteoritics & Planetary Science" and could inspire future research projects and initiatives.
The discovery of the "Ribbeck" meteorite and its analysis are not only important for science, but also for the local community, which is now part of this exciting historical and scientific discovery.