Rare meteorite linked to a doomed planet in solar system’s past
A rare meteorite known as NWA 12774 has been linked to a protoplanet that may have existed in the early solar system. Researchers believe this protoplanet could have been as large as Mars before it was destroyed in a cosmic collision. The findings challenge previous assumptions about the origins of angrites and provide new insights into planetary formation.
- ▪NWA 12774 is an angrite meteorite discovered in the Sahara Desert in 2019.
- ▪The meteorite suggests that a protoplanet, potentially as large as Mars, once existed before being destroyed.
- ▪Analysis revealed that NWA 12774 formed under high pressure conditions, indicating it originated from a larger body than previously thought.
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| Original publisher | Popular Science |
| Canonical URL | https://www.popsci.com/science/rare-meteorite-extra-planet/ |
| Publication time | Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:01:00 -0400 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-06-03T16:10:11.555Z |
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An X-ray image of NWA 12774 shows how its composition suggests a surprising origin story. Credit: Aaron Bell / CU Boulder Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Email address Sign up Thank you! By signing up, you confirm you are 16+, will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time. A rare meteorite discovered in the Sahara Desert proves that our solar system almost had at least one extra planet. In a study published in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters, astronomers say the chunk of space rock known as Northwest Africa (NWA) 12774 once belonged to a protoplanet possibly as large as Mars.
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