Which meteorites have been identified as coming from the Moon, Mars, and Vesta?
Meteorites identified as originating from the Moon, Mars, and the asteroid Vesta are classified as achondrites, a group of meteorites that have undergone igneous processing.1
Vesta
The asteroid Vesta is the parent body of the HED meteorite group, which consists of howardite, eucrite, and diogenite meteorites. These rocks provide evidence of Vesta's complex geological history, including melting, crystallization, and impact brecciation.12
Mars
Martian meteorites are volcanic rocks often referred to as SNCs, named after their three primary classes: shergottites, nakhlites, and chassignites. Their origin was confirmed by matching trapped gases within the rocks to the Martian atmosphere measured by Viking landers. A notable specimen is ALH84001, which has been the subject of significant scientific study and debate.13
The Moon
Lunar meteorites are fragments ejected from the Moon by large impacts. They resemble rock types collected during the Apollo and Luna missions, such as mare basalts and highland breccias, but are believed to originate from areas not sampled by those missions.1