Photo: The Murchison meteorite (Basilicofresco -- Wikipedia Commons)
The Murchison meteorite is a meteorite that landed in Victoria, Australia in September 1969 and is one of the most studied meteorites due to it being an observed fall and being of such a large size. It was fragmented but collectively weighs 100kg or 220lb.
The meteorite contains minerals that are thought to be 2.5 billion years older than Earth itself, going back to around 7 billion years ago.
It contains common amino acids such as glycine, alanine and glutamic acid as well as unusual ones such as isovaline and pseudoleucine. A mixture of alkanes was isolated also.
Serine and threonine, usually considered to be earthly contaminants were absent.
A Swedish 2010 study identified 14000 molecular compounds in the meteorite.
The total number of unique organic compounds is estimated to possibly be in the millions.
NASA research has reported the presence of key molecules like hexamethylenetatramine in it, which are important in organic chemistry pathways.
For more information on this amazing visitor, now resident please see the links below:
www.pbs.org/exploringspace/meteorites/murchison/index.html
museumsvictoria.com.au/article/the-murchison-meteorite/
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzrt-iTRWUE
By Brendon Crook
The Murchison meteorite is a meteorite that landed in Victoria, Australia in September 1969 and is one of the most studied meteorites due to it being an observed fall and being of such a large size. It was fragmented but collectively weighs 100kg or 220lb.
The meteorite contains minerals that are thought to be 2.5 billion years older than Earth itself, going back to around 7 billion years ago.
It contains common amino acids such as glycine, alanine and glutamic acid as well as unusual ones such as isovaline and pseudoleucine. A mixture of alkanes was isolated also.
Serine and threonine, usually considered to be earthly contaminants were absent.
A Swedish 2010 study identified 14000 molecular compounds in the meteorite.
The total number of unique organic compounds is estimated to possibly be in the millions.
NASA research has reported the presence of key molecules like hexamethylenetatramine in it, which are important in organic chemistry pathways.
For more information on this amazing visitor, now resident please see the links below:
www.pbs.org/exploringspace/meteorites/murchison/index.html
museumsvictoria.com.au/article/the-murchison-meteorite/
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzrt-iTRWUE
By Brendon Crook
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