Mackinac Island meteorite

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

Mackinac Island meteorite
Type	Iron
Parent body	Unknown
Composition	Nickel, iron, Kamacite, taenite[1][2]
Weathering grade	Large-scale, cavernous weathering[2]
Country	Mars
Region	Meridiani Planum
Coordinates	02°07′02″S 05°31′22.43″W[3]
Observed fall	No
Fall date	Possibly late Noachian
Found date	2009-10-13[4]
Strewn field	Possibly[5]
Related media on Wikimedia Commons

History

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

• Atmospheric reentry
• Bounce Rock
• Glossary of meteoritics
• Heat Shield Rock
• List of Martian meteorites
• List of meteorites on Mars
• List of rocks on Mars
• Oileán Ruaidh meteorite
• List of surface features of Mars imaged by Opportunity

References

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. 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. 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.