Lunar meteorite Bechar 003 – Algeria
Type: Lunar / feldspathic breccia
Locality: Bechar, Algeria
Weight: 9,2g
Dimensions: 4,4 x 2,1 x 0,9 cm
Year found: 2022
Total known weight: 2,09 kg
Surface treatment: polished endcut
Category: | Bechar 003 |
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By name: | Bechar 003 |
? Type: | Stony |
Subspecies: | Achondrite |
? Surface treatment: | Cut |
Packaging: | None |
? Origin: | Moon |
Lunar Meteorite Bechar 003 – A Rare Fragment from the Moon
Bechar 003 is a lunar meteorite that originated from an asteroid impact on the lunar surface, which ejected material into space. Some of this material, if fast enough, escapes the Moon’s gravity and heads toward Earth. The journey may take thousands to millions of years before the meteorite finally enters Earth’s atmosphere and lands. The Moon, our closest celestial body, accounts for only 0.08% of all known meteorites, making lunar meteorites extremely rare.
The Bechar meteorite was found in 2022 in Algeria and is classified as a lunar breccia, a rock made up of various fragments of rocks and minerals typically fused together by impact events on the Moon. The Bechar meteorite consists of many small stones without fusion crusts. These stones have light brown weathered surfaces and dark gray interiors. Inside, tiny white clasts and rare small metallic grains can be observed.