Meteorite Landings Map

This project brings together a large meteorite dataset into an interactive map that makes it easy to explore locations, classes, masses, years, and direct reference links for meteorites around the world.

How it works

The map is powered by Leaflet JS, with marker clustering provided by Leaflet.markercluster. The dataset is parsed from a local Meteoritical Bulletin CSV and rendered in the browser, allowing fast searching, filtering, and visual exploration of meteorite fall and find locations.

The Data

The current dataset contains 83,625 meteorite entries, and every record includes coordinates. This is a significantly more complete dataset than the older NASA API JSON feed, which was limited to around 45,700 entries and ended in 2013. The newer source is based on the Meteoritical Bulletin and includes a more recent cutoff in October 2024.

The project uses the Meteoritical Bulletin as its primary source because the NASA API is no longer a reliable or complete option for this use case. The Bulletin data is more comprehensive, includes a broader range of meteorites, and provides direct links to detailed records.

In other words, this map is not a partial snapshot of the older NASA dataset: it is built around the most complete public meteorite record set currently available in this project, with all coordinates retained and more complete historical coverage.

How do I recognise a meteorite?

This guide from the United States Geological Survey can help identify meteorites from other rocks. The information was compiled with the support of the Meteorite Museum at the University of New Mexico.

Want to know more about meteorites?

Explore the Meteoritical Society website for scientific context and up-to-date meteorite research. You can also read a detailed overview of meteorite landings in this research paper.

What is the difference between meteorites, meteors, meteoroids and asteroids?

In short, a meteorite is a rock that has reached the surface of a planet or moon. A meteor is the glowing streak seen in the atmosphere as a meteoroid burns up. A meteoroid is a small rocky or metallic fragment in space, while an asteroid is a larger rocky body orbiting the Sun. Comets are ice-rich objects, which is why they often develop tails while asteroids generally do not.