Meteorite collecting web sites

Meteorites — bits of rock and metal from space that land on Earth — are not only scientifically interesting but are also desired by an ever-growing number of collectors. Owning a “piece of the sky” is high on the priority list of many amateur astronomers. For more information on collecting meteorites, be sure to read “The lure of meteorites” by Raymond Shubinski in the December 2003 issue of Astronomy.

If you’re interested in starting your own collection or want to learn more about meteorites, you can also check out these meteorite web sites.

The Institute of Meteoritics, part of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of New Mexico, studies meteorites, hosts a meteorite museum, and helps people determine whether or not the strange rock they found is indeed a meteorite.

The International Meteorite Brokerage buys and sells meteorites and also helps to identify meteorites.

The R.A. Langheinrich Museum of Meteorites has a great deal of information about specific meteorites and has meteorites for sale.

Starborn Creations sells meteorites and related items such as meteorite jewelry.

Part of the Smithsonian Institution, the National Museum of Natural History maintains a collection of meteorites, and a section of its website is devoted to informing the public about these visitors from space.