Anatomy of the solar system

Part of Hall of Meteorites.

B.6.1. Anatomy of the solar system

Meteorites and the planets in our solar system share an important feature: their chemical makeup relates to distance from the Sun. The planets closest to the Sun (Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars) are rocky, while the outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) are made largely of gas and ices. The three rocks on display represent three distinct groups of meteorites. The chemical composition of meteorites in each group provides clues to how far from the Sun the rocks may have formed.

In This Section

Exhibit Eagle The meteorite Eagle belongs to a group of meteorites (enstatite chondrites) that could have formed relatively close to the Sun. Of... Exhibit Farmington Farmington belongs to a group (ordinary chondrites) that may have formed at an intermediate distance from the Sun. Exhibit Banten Banten belongs to a group (carbonaceous chondrites) that may have taken shape relatively far from the Sun.