Sahara meteorite reveals 'ghost planet' the size of the Moon

Scientists have uncovered compelling evidence of a lost planet, potentially as large as the Moon or even Mars, that existed in our solar system over 4.5 billion years ago. This ancient world, described as a "ghost planet," followed a distinct evolutionary trajectory before a cataclysmic collision is believed to have fragmented it, sending pieces towards Earth.

The discovery stems from the analysis of a meteorite found in the Sahara Desert, designated NWA 12774. This meteorite belongs to the angrite class, an extremely rare group of volcanic rocks formed very early in the solar system's history. Angrites are notable for their unusual chemical composition, particularly their low silica content compared to Earth, Mars, and other rocky planets.

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It is incredible to think that there was once a world this large.

Researchers identified the mineral clinopyroxene within NWA 12774, which typically forms under high pressure. The specific sample contained exceptionally high levels of aluminum, suggesting it originated deep within a larger celestial body. Calculations indicated that the mineral would require a pressure of at least 17.5 kilobars to form – conditions far exceeding those found on small asteroids and pointing to a parent body with a radius of at least 1,000 kilometers.

Further analysis of the meteorite's crystals revealed sharp edges and delicate chemical structures. These features suggest they formed under immense pressure within a large body, rather than being subjected to the stresses of smaller asteroid formation. The findings, published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters, offer direct proof of this long-lost planetary embryo and its unique development.

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We only know of its existence because a few pieces of it fell to Earth and preserved clues to a completely different path through which the first planets developed.