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Mackinac Island meteorite

Coordinates: 02°07′02″S 05°31′22.43″W / 2.11722°S 5.5228972°W / -2.11722; -5.5228972
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Mackinac Island meteorite
TypeIron
Parent bodyUnknown
CompositionNickel, iron, Kamacite, taenite[1][2]
Weathering gradeLarge-scale, cavernous weathering[2]
CountryMars
RegionMeridiani Planum
Coordinates02°07′02″S 05°31′22.43″W / 2.11722°S 5.5228972°W / -2.11722; -5.5228972[3]
Observed fallNo
Fall datePossibly late Noachian
Found date2009-10-13[4]
Strewn fieldPossibly[5]
Related media on Wikimedia Commons

Mackinac Island meteorite is a meteorite that was found on Mars by the Opportunity rover on October 13, 2009.

History

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Mackinac Island was the third of three iron meteorites encountered by the rover on Meridiani Planum within a few hundred meters, the others being Shelter Island and Block Island.[2]

Mackinac Island may have fallen on Mars in the late Noachian period and is extensively weathered.[2][5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Nemiroff, R.; Bonnell, J., eds. (August 13, 2009). "Block Island Meteorite on Mars". Astronomy Picture of the Day. NASA. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d Ashley, J. W.; et al. (July 2011). "Evidence for mechanical and chemical alteration of iron-nickel meteorites on Mars: Process insights for Meridiani Planum" (PDF). Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets. 116 (E7): E00F20. Bibcode:2011JGRE..116.0F20A. doi:10.1029/2010JE003672. hdl:1893/17110.
  3. ^ Google Mars
  4. ^ ATKINSON, NANCY (October 18, 2009). "Opportunity Discovers Still Another Meteorite! Find It on Google Mars". Universe Today. Space.com. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  5. ^ a b Beech, Martin; Ian M. Coulson (2010). "The making of Martian meteorite Block Island". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 404 (3): 1457. Bibcode:2010MNRAS.404.1457B. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.16350.x.