description Winchcombe Overview
The Winchcombe meteorite is a CM2 carbonaceous chondrite that fell over Gloucestershire, England, on 28 February 2021. Pieces were recovered rapidly after its bright fireball was recorded, limiting terrestrial contamination and giving researchers unusually pristine material. It contains hydrated minerals and organic compounds, including amino acids, and is studied for evidence about water-rich asteroids and the early Solar System.
insights Ranking position
Winchcombe ranks #21 of 213 in the Meteorite ranking, behind Nakhla, ahead of ALH81005.
help Winchcombe FAQ
How quickly was the Winchcombe meteorite recovered?
Winchcombe fell on February 28, 2021, and material was collected within hours from a driveway and nearby locations in Gloucestershire. Rapid retrieval limited contamination and preserved the meteorite's fragile carbon-rich chemistry.
How did scientists know where to search for Winchcombe?
Fireball cameras and eyewitness reports recorded its passage across the British sky. Researchers used those observations to estimate the fall area before local residents reported recovered fragments.
What does Winchcombe reveal about water on asteroids?
Its CM2 material contains abundant hydrated minerals formed when water altered rock on its parent asteroid. The meteorite also contains extraterrestrial organic compounds, including amino acids.
Why was Winchcombe a major event for British meteoritics?
It was the first carbonaceous chondrite fall recovered in the United Kingdom. It also became the country's first recovered meteorite fall in roughly three decades.
explore Explore More
Reviews & Comments
Write a Review
Be the first to review
Share your thoughts with the community and help others make better decisions.
