Meteorites are space rocks that have fallen to Earth since the planet’s formation 4.5 billion years ago. While some cause little damage, others can lead to catastrophic events. Recent research has helped identify the origins of most meteorites. Scientists studied the composition of meteorites and asteroids in the solar system to conclude that about 70% of known meteorites come from three groups of asteroids in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Using computer simulations, astronomers were able to model how families of asteroids formed and evolved in the main asteroid belt. These families are groups of asteroids with similar orbits, created when collisions between asteroids sent fragments into space, some of which eventually hit Earth. Astronomer Miroslav Brož from Charles University, one of the researchers, noted that 37% of known meteorites are L chondrites, coming from the Massalia asteroid family. The Karin and Koronis families are responsible for 33% of meteorites, which are called H chondrites. The research also showed that 8% of Earth’s meteorites came from the Flora and Nysa asteroid families, and about 6% are from the asteroid Vesta. This research did not focus on the meteorite that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. However, another study suggests that it may have come from beyond Jupiter. NASA’s 2022 DART mission proved that a spacecraft could change an asteroid’s path, helping protect Earth from potential impacts.