Glossary of meteoritics

This is a glossary of terms used in meteoritics, the science of meteorites. 2 Pallas – an asteroid from the asteroid belt and one of the likely parent bodies of the CR meteorites. 4 Vesta – second-largest asteroid in the asteroid belt and likely source of the HED meteorites. 221 Eos – an asteroid from the asteroid belt and one of the likely parent bodies of the CO meteorites. 289 Nenetta – an asteroid from the asteroid belt and one of the likely parent bodies of the angrites. 3103 Eger – an asteroid from the asteroid belt and one of the likely parent bodies of the aubrites. 3819 Robinson – an asteroid from the asteroid belt and one of the likely parent bodies of the angrites. IA meteorite – an iron meteorite group now part of the IAB group/complex. IAB meteorite – an iron meteorite and primitive achondrite of the IAB group/complex. IB meteorite – an iron meteorite group now part of the IAB group/complex. IC meteorite – an iron meteorite that is part of the IC group. Ablation – the process of a meteorite losing mass during the passage through the atmosphere. Acapulcoite – a group of primitive achondrites. Accretion – the process in which matter of the protoplanetary disk coalesces to form planetesimals. Achondrite – a differentiated meteorite (meaning without chondrules). Aerolite – an old term for stony meteorites. ALH – an abbreviation used for meteorites from Allan Hills. Allan Hills 84001 – is an exotic meteorite from Mars that does not fit into any of the SNC groups and was thought to contain evidence for life on Mars. Allende meteorite – is the largest carbonaceous chondrite ever found on Earth. Amphoterite – an obsolete classification of chondritic meteorites that are now classified as LL. Angrite – a basaltic meteorite. ANSMET – the Antarctic Search for Meteorites is a scientific program that looks for meteorites in the Transantarctic Mountains. Asteroidal achondrite – an achondrite that differentiated on an asteroid or planetesimal (see planetary achondrite) Asteroid spectral types – classification of asteroids according to their spectra.