Birth of the Solar System - Allende Meteorite opal ” National Parks Service

” National Parks Service

Eocene Epoch landscape was home to alligators

from tiny particles of ash to dangerous lava bombs

The North American species settled in what is now the Midwest

Birth of the Solar System - Allende Meteorite opal ” National Parks ServiceThe Allende meteorite landed on our planet in 1969, but its origin goes all the way back to the birth of the Sun. Encased in resin with a glimmering shine, this specimen is a piece of the building blocks of our solar system. 4. 6 billion years ago, the solar system was a cloud of gas, dust, and heat. Over time, this material accumulated into asteroids, planets, and our star. Geologic processes melted and reformed much of the original material of our