NASA Studies Meteorite Revealing Asteroid Water Origins

NASA scientists are studying a meteorite that impacted Earth in New Jersey on July 16, 2024, to understand the origins of water and chemical evolution in early asteroids. An amateur astronomer quickly recovered fragments of the meteorite, carefully preserving them to prevent contamination. Analysis revealed the meteorite, classified as a CM carbonaceous chondrite, contains unusually high concentrations of sodium and ancient salt deposits.

These salt deposits suggest saltwater flowed through the asteroid billions of years ago, chemically altering its composition. The meteorite also contains a variety of amino acids and complex organic compounds, comparable to those found in the Murchison meteorite of 1969.

Researchers believe the findings indicate ancient saltwater was more widespread in the asteroid belt than previously thought, potentially originating from the Erigone asteroid family. Ongoing research on the Hillsborough meteorite aims to further illuminate the role of asteroids in distributing water and organic matter throughout the cosmos.