Bendegó meteorite, Iron meteorite in Rio de Janeiro, 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.

The meteorite was found in 1784 by Domingos da Motta Botelho near Monte Santo, Bahia. A first attempt to move it in 1785 failed when the ox cart lost its brakes and the meteorite fell into the Bendegó stream bed, 180 meters away. In 1887 a commission led by José Carlos de Carvalho resumed the transport; after 277 days through the caatinga it reached the Jacurici railway station on 14 May 1888 and arrived in Rio de Janeiro on 15 June 1888.

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.