The appearance of a meteorite in the sky over Cirebon recently startled the public, highlighting that various regions in Indonesia can be affected by the fall of celestial rocks. Indonesia’s position along the equator places it within a region where numerous asteroids orbit nearby. However, predictions of an asteroid potentially colliding with Earth in 2032, reportedly capable of destroying a city, have intensified public concern. On the other hand, despite the potential damage caused by such events, meteorite impacts also offer valuable opportunities to advance scientific knowledge.
Lecturer at the Department of Geological Engineering, Dr. Nugroho Imam Setiawan, explained that the fall of a meteorite can be viewed from two perspectives: as both a blessing and a disaster.
Meteorite falls can be a blessing, particularly in scientific research. Through meteorites, scientists can learn about rock formations from the solar system and Earth’s surroundings, their composition, and mineral content.
“From meteorites, we can identify the composition of rocks around the Earth, determine the meteorite’s age, which also provides information about the Earth’s age, understand how the solar system works, and utilize the materials contained within the meteorite,” said Dr. Setiawan on Thursday (Oct. 16).
According to Dr. Setiawan, to verify a meteorite’s authenticity, specific collection methods must be used for further examination. Most meteorite samples are retrieved from the South Pole because the Antarctic surface is largely covered by snow, making darker celestial objects more easily identifiable.
“The sooner a meteorite sample is collected after its fall, the better. The longer it remains on the ground, mixing with soil and decaying, the less authentic the meteorite becomes,” he noted.
Dr. Setiawan further explained that one of the organic compounds found in meteorites is an amino acid. However, amino acids may not survive the meteorite’s descent to Earth.
Due to the high temperatures encountered when entering the atmosphere, the organic components of meteorites can evaporate or erode completely, leaving only inorganic materials by the time they reach the surface.
“When a meteorite has pores to retain amino acids, it is more likely to preserve them. But if it is nonporous and the amino acids exist only on the surface, they will not survive the fall,” he added.
Aside from their scientific benefits, meteorite impacts can also cause disasters, particularly when large meteors fall in residential areas or the ocean, potentially triggering tsunamis.
Regarding asteroid collision predictions, Dr. Setiawan emphasized that such events are highly unlikely. Earth possesses a strong natural shield (its atmosphere) that helps break large celestial objects into smaller fragments, significantly reducing potential damage.
Nevertheless, he noted that if such an impact were to occur, it is hoped that the resulting meteor would be small and would not fall in populated areas.
“Of course, the potential for meteorite falls still exists because there are numerous asteroids surrounding Earth,” he concluded.
Author: Jesi
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Illustration: Freepik