Yamato 791197
First known lunar meteorite found on Earth
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Yamato 791197, official abbreviation Y-791197, is a meteorite that was found in Antarctica on November 20, 1979.[3]
| Yamato 791197 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Achondrite |
| Class | Lunar meteorite |
| Group | Anorthositic[1] |
| Parent body | Moon |
| Country | Antarctica |
| Coordinates | 71°30′S 35°40′E[1] |
| Observed fall | No |
| Fall date | 0.03–0.09 Myr[2] |
| Found date | November 20, 1979 |
| TKW | 52.4 g |
It is the first lunar meteorite to be found on Earth, but was not identified as such until 1984, after the lunar origin of ALH 81005 was recognised.[4] It was collected by the National Institute of Polar Research, Japan.[1]
Classification and characteristics
Weighing 52.4 grams, it is a weakly shocked feldspathic regolith breccia believed to have come from the lunar highlands on the far side of the Moon.[1][5]
It is classified as lunar-anorthositic breccia, a lunar meteorite that is primarily anorthositic.[1]