Researchers at Kent are part of the nationwide analysis effort on the Winchcombe meteorite.
Researchers at Kent are excited to be part of the nationwide analysis effort on the Winchcombe meteorite. This meteorite fell near Winchcombe on 28/2/21 (for more details click here). It’s fall was observed, leading to a rapid recovery. It is now lodged at the Natural History Museum (London) where it is on display. The meteorite is classed in group CM2. It is a primitive object, that formed early in the history of the Solar System, about 4.6 billion years ago (for more details click here).
Nationwide, teams of researchers are studying samples from the meteorite and Kent is involved in this effort. The Kent team consists of: Dr Luke Alesbrook, Prof. Mark Burchell, Luke Cornwell, Aishling Dignam, Prof. Nigel Mason, Dr Vassi Spathis, Dr Matthias van Ginneken and Dr Penny Wozniakiewicz, all from the Centre for Astrophysics and Planetary Science.
Optical and scanning electron microscope images of a small sized slice of the meteorite are shown below. Samples are currently at the University undergoing analysis via a variety of methods. We thank the Natural History Museum for this opportunity.
Update provided by Prof. Mark Burchell.