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Allan Hills 77005

Allan Hills 77005
Exterior Interior Meteorite ALH-77005
Type	Achondrite (unique)[1][2]
Clan	Martian meteorite
Composition	~55% olivine, ~35% pyroxene, ~8% maskelynite and ~2% opaques[3]
Shock stage	S6[4]
Weathering grade	A[1]
Country	Antarctica
Region	Allan Hills
Coordinates	76°43′00″S 159°40′00″E / 76.71667°S 159.66667°E / -76.71667; 159.66667[1]
Observed fall	No[1]
Found date	29 December 1977 (Japanese National Institute of Polar Research mission)[5][6]
TKW	482.5 g[1]
Related media on Wikimedia Commons

Allan Hills 77005 (also known as Allan Hills A77005, ALHA77005, ALH77005 and ALH-77005^[1][5]) is a Martian meteorite that was found in the Allan HillsofAntarctica in 1977 by a Japanese National Institute of Polar Research mission team^[7] and ANSMET.^[8] Like other members of the group of SNCs (shergottite, nakhlite, chassignite), ALH-77005 is thought to be from Mars.^[9]

On discovery, the mass of ALH-77005 was 482.5 g (1.064 lb). Initial geological examination determined that the meteorite was composed of ~55% olivine, ~35% pyroxene, ~8% maskelynite and ~2% opaques.^[3]

In March 2019, researchers reported the possibility of biosignatures in this Martian meteorite based on its microtexture and morphology as detected with optical microscopy and FTIR-ATR microscopy, and on the detection of mineralized organic compounds,^[5][7][10] suggesting that microbial life could have existed on the planet Mars.^[7] More broadly, and as a result of their studies, the researchers suggest Solar System materials should be carefully studied to determine whether there may be signs of microbial forms within other space rocks as well.^[7]

• Sawyer, Kathy (2006). The Rock from Mars: A Detective Story on Two Planets. Random House. ISBN 1-4000-6010-9.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Allan Hills 77005.

• Meteoritical Society
• The British and Irish Meteorite Society
• The Natural History Museum's meteorite catalogue database

Biology

Solar System