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| Meteorite that hit home is older than Earth, scientists say | Meteorite that hit home is older than Earth, scientists say |
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| Watch: Large fireball seen shooting across sky over Southeastern US | Watch: Large fireball seen shooting across sky over Southeastern US |
| A meteorite that crashed into a home in the US is older than planet Earth, scientists have said. | A meteorite that crashed into a home in the US is older than planet Earth, scientists have said. |
| The object flew through the skies in broad daylight before exploding across the state of Georgia on 26 June, Nasa confirmed. | The object flew through the skies in broad daylight before exploding across the state of Georgia on 26 June, Nasa confirmed. |
| Researchers at the University of Georgia examined a fragment of the rock that pierced the roof of a home in the city of McDonough. | Researchers at the University of Georgia examined a fragment of the rock that pierced the roof of a home in the city of McDonough. |
| They found that, based on the type of meteorite, it is expected to have formed more than four billion years ago, making it older than Earth. | They found that, based on the type of meteorite, it is expected to have formed more than four billion years ago, making it older than Earth. |
| Residents in Georgia and nearby states reported hundreds of sightings and a loud booming noise when the fireball tore through the skies. | |
| The rock quickly diminished in size and speed, but still travelled at least 1 km per second, going through a man's roof in Henry County. | The rock quickly diminished in size and speed, but still travelled at least 1 km per second, going through a man's roof in Henry County. |
| Multiple fragments that struck the building were handed over to scientists, who analysed their origins. | Multiple fragments that struck the building were handed over to scientists, who analysed their origins. |
| "This particular meteor that entered the atmosphere has a long history before it made it to the ground of McDonough," Scott Harris, a geologist at the University of Georgia, said. | "This particular meteor that entered the atmosphere has a long history before it made it to the ground of McDonough," Scott Harris, a geologist at the University of Georgia, said. |
| Using optical and electron microscopy, Harris and his team determined the rock was a chondrite - the most abundant type of stony meteorite, according to Nasa - which meant that it was approximately 4.5 billion years old. | Using optical and electron microscopy, Harris and his team determined the rock was a chondrite - the most abundant type of stony meteorite, according to Nasa - which meant that it was approximately 4.5 billion years old. |
| The home's resident said he is still finding pieces of space dust around his home from the hit. | The home's resident said he is still finding pieces of space dust around his home from the hit. |
| The object, which has been named the McDonough meteorite, is the 27th to have been recovered from Georgia. | The object, which has been named the McDonough meteorite, is the 27th to have been recovered from Georgia. |
| "This is something that used to be expected once every few decades and not multiple times within 20 years," Harris said. | "This is something that used to be expected once every few decades and not multiple times within 20 years," Harris said. |
| "Modern technology, in addition to an attentive public, is going to help us recover more and more meteorites." | "Modern technology, in addition to an attentive public, is going to help us recover more and more meteorites." |
| Harris is hoping to publish his findings on the composition and speed of the asteroid, which will help to understand the threat of further asteroids. | Harris is hoping to publish his findings on the composition and speed of the asteroid, which will help to understand the threat of further asteroids. |
| "One day there will be an opportunity, and we never know when it's going to be, for something large to hit and create a catastrophic situation. If we can guard against that, we want to," he said. | "One day there will be an opportunity, and we never know when it's going to be, for something large to hit and create a catastrophic situation. If we can guard against that, we want to," he said. |