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Astronomy Science Fair Project

Micrometeorites from Rooftops, Leaves, and Rain

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Micrometeorites from Rooftops, Leaves, and Rain | Science Fair Projects | STEM Projects
Can you find pieces of outer space sitting on your roof right now? Tiny rock fragments called micrometeorites (space dust) fall to Earth every day. Most land unnoticed on rooftops, plants, and in puddles. You collect water samples from a roof gutter, outdoor plant leaves, and a rain pan. Using a magnet, you pull out metallic particles. Then you view them under a microscope. Any small rounded metal bits are likely micrometeorites.

Hypothesis

The hypothesis is that the dust collected from all the locations will contain some micrometeorites.

Method & Materials

You will collect samples from a rooftop gutter, an outdoor plant, and rainwater. You will use a magnet, a hotplate, and a microscope to observe the micrometeorites.
You will need a bottle of distilled water, a basin of water collected from a rooftop gutter, 20 leaves plucked from an outdoor plant, 2 plastic basins, a plastic pan with a large surface area, 3 beakers, 3 plastic bags, a strong magnet, a basin of rainwater, a hotplate, 3 needles, and a microscope.

Results

The results show that micrometeorites were found in all 3 locations where the samples were collected. This proves that the hypothesis is true.

Why do this project?

This science project is interesting because it allows you to explore the origins of the solar system and learn more about the tiny rocks that make up shooting stars.

Also Consider

To vary the experiment, you can collect samples throughout the different months of the year and compare the types of micrometeorites found. You can also collect samples after or during a meteorite shower.

Full project details

Additional information and source material for this project are available below.

Related videos

These videos explain the science behind this project and demonstrate key concepts used in the experiment.
Learn all about space rocks from the Royal Observatory Greenwich: asteroids, meteors, meteorites and comets!
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