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Allan Hills 77005
ExteriorInteriorMeteorite ALH-77005
Type	Achondrite (unique)
Clan	Martian meteorite
Composition	~55% olivine, ~35% pyroxene, ~8% maskelynite and ~2% opaques
Shock stage	S6
Weathering grade	A
Country	Antarctica
Region	Allan Hills
Coordinates	76°43′00″S 159°40′00″E / 76.71667°S 159.66667°E / -76.71667; 159.66667
Observed fall	No
Found date	29 December 1977 (Japanese National Institute of Polar Research mission)
TKW	482.5 g
[REDACTED] Related media on Wikimedia Commons

Allan Hills 77005 (also known as Allan Hills A77005, ALHA77005, ALH77005 and ALH-77005) is a Martian meteorite that was found in the Allan Hills of Antarctica in 1977 by a Japanese National Institute of Polar Research mission team and ANSMET. Like other members of the group of SNCs (shergottite, nakhlite, chassignite), ALH-77005 is thought to be from Mars.

Description

On discovery, the mass of ALH-77005 was 482.5 g (1.064 lb). Initial geological examination determined that the meteorite was composed of ~55% olivine, ~35% pyroxene, ~8% maskelynite and ~2% opaques.

In March 2019, researchers reported the possibility of biosignatures in this Martian meteorite based on its microtexture and morphology as detected with optical microscopy and FTIR-ATR microscopy, and on the detection of mineralized organic compounds, suggesting that microbial life could have existed on the planet Mars. More broadly, and as a result of their studies, the researchers suggest Solar System materials should be carefully studied to determine whether there may be signs of microbial forms within other space rocks as well.

See also

• Allan Hills 84001
• Glossary of meteoritics
• History of Mars observation
• Life on Mars
• List of Martian meteorites on Earth
• List of meteorites on Mars
• Nakhla meteorite
• Mars sample return mission
• Panspermia
• Shergotty meteorite
• Water on Mars

References

1. ^ Staff (31 March 2019). "Meteoritical Bulletin Database: Allan Hills 77005". Meteoritical Bulletin Database. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
2. McSween Jr, Harry Y.; et al. (1 November 1979). "Petrogenetic relationship between Allan Hills 77005 and other achondrites". Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 45 (2): 275–284. Bibcode:1979E&PSL..45..275M. doi:10.1016/0012-821X(79)90129-8.
3. ^ Meyer, C - Martian Meteorite Compendium (2012). "ALH77005 - 482grams - Intermediate Lherzolitic Shergottite" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
4. Allan Hills A77005. The Meteoritical Society. Accessed on April 8, 2019. Quote: The meteorite has been severely shocked, as is shown by the presence of maskelynite, undulose extinction in the pyroxene, and occasional areas of apparent shock melting.
5. ^ Gyollai, Ildikó; et al. (29 March 2019). "Mineralized biosignatures in ALH-77005 Shergottite - Clues to Martian Life?". Open Astronomy. 28 (1): 32–39. Bibcode:2019OAst...28...32G. doi:10.1515/astro-2019-0002. hdl:10831/50855.
6. Baalke, Ron. "The ALHA 77005 Meteorite". NASA. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
7. ^ De Gruyter (4 April 2019). "Life on Mars? - A Martian meteorite discovered 40 years ago delivers fresh evidence that life once existed on Mars". EurekAlert!. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
8. Cassidy, William (2003). Meteorites, Ice, and Antarctica: A personal account. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 28-29, 115, 335–337. ISBN 9780521258722.
9. Anderson, Paul Scott (7 April 2019). "New evidence for life in a Martian meteorite? - The discovery of fossilized microbes in Martian meteorites has been claimed before. Now scientists in Hungary add a new study of the ALH-77005 meteorite, with some intriguing new evidence". Earth & Sky. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
10. De Gruyter (4 April 2019). "Life on Mars?". Phys.org. Retrieved 5 April 2019.

Further reading

• Sawyer, Kathy (2006). The Rock from Mars: A Detective Story on Two Planets. Random House. ISBN 1-4000-6010-9.

External links

• Meteoritical Society
• The British and Irish Meteorite Society
• The Natural History Museum's meteorite catalogue database

• Astronomy
• Biology
• Solar System

• Astrobiology
• Martian meteorites
• Meteorites found in Antarctica