Meteorite classification

Okay, so when a big rock from space falls down to Earth, we call it a meteorite. Scientists like to study meteorites to learn more about the things that are flying around in space. But, not all meteorites are the same - they come in different shapes, sizes, and materials.

To understand more about them, scientists have come up with a way to classify or group them into different types based on their characteristics. They look at things like the minerals inside the meteorite, its age, and its shape.

There are three main types of meteorites. One is called stony meteorites, which are made up mostly of rocks like what you would find on Earth. The second type is called iron meteorites, which are mostly made of metal like iron and nickel. The third type is called stony-iron meteorites, which are a mix of both rock and metal materials.

Within these main types, there are even more subtypes based on specific characteristics. Scientists use all these classifications to help them understand more about where the meteorite came from and what it might be able to tell us about the universe. And that's it, a meteorite classification at an ELI5 level!