When most people think of meteorites, they might picture movie scenes or artifacts displayed in museums. However, these celestial objects are much more than dramatic plot devices or rare items, they are pieces of our universe’s history that scientists have studied for decades. Each meteorite that reaches Earth offers a glimpse into the origins of our solar system, revealing clues about the formation of planets, the composition of ancient asteroids, and even traces of water and organic materials that could hint at early life.

Using entries from NASA’s Meteorite Landings dataset, we can chart where these cosmic visitors have been discovered over time. The dataset records meteorite landings from 1900 to 2013, capturing 31,464 documented meteorite events worldwide.

While many envision meteorites as small, palm-sized rocks, they can reach remarkable sizes. One of the most notable entries in the dataset is Hoba, the largest meteorite in the dataset, weighing an impressive 60,000,000 grams (approximately 132,277 pounds). To put that into perspective, it’s roughly the combined weight of 32 average cars. Due to its massive size, the meteorite has never been moved from where it fell and still lies in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia.

Below is a comprehensive table featuring the data. Feel free to scroll through the table and explore the entries.

As research continues, new findings from meteorites will likely offer deeper insights, potentially answering some of humanity’s most profound questions about the origins of water, organic molecules, and life itself. Exploring meteorites is not just an endeavor of scientific curiosity—it is a quest that connects us directly to the cosmos, reminding us that Earth is part of a vast and dynamic universe with stories waiting to be uncovered.