Bendegó meteorite, Iron meteorite in Monte Santo, Brazil
The Bendegó meteorite is an iron meteorite on display at Rio de Janeiro's National Museum. Its surface shows numerous depressions and cylindrical holes created by the burning of troilite during atmospheric entry.
A young herder named Domingos da Motta Botelho discovered this meteorite in 1784 near Monte Santo in Bahia. It gradually became the focus of scientific research and eventually entered the museum's collection.
The meteorite is displayed in Rio de Janeiro's National Museum as educational material about extraterrestrial materials and geological study. Visitors can engage with how such objects expand our understanding of space.
The meteorite is located in the National Museum and is easily accessible during regular visiting hours. Plan time to explore other geological exhibits in the museum as well.
This meteorite survived the National Museum fire in 2018 without damage. Its resilience made it a rare preserved example for studying planetary formation.
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