Meteorite : how stones from outer space made our world / Tim Gregory.

"Originally published in 2020 by John Murray (Publishers) in Great Britain"--Title page verso.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 279-283) and index.

Meteorite family tree -- Prologue: Written in rock -- Stones from the sky -- Earthfall -- From gas to dust; from dust to worlds -- Spheres of metal and molten stone -- Cosmic sediments -- Drops of fiery rain -- Stars down a microscope -- Star-tar -- Pieces of the Red Planet -- Calamitous tales -- Epilogue: The story goes on -- Appendix: Meteor showers.

"Meteorites have long been seen as portents of fate and messages from the gods, their fiery remains inspiring worship and giving rise to legends that have persisted for millennia. But beyond the lore, meteorites tell an even greater story: that of our solar system. In Meteorite, geologist Tim Gregory shows that beneath the charred crusts of these celestial stones lies a staggering diversity of rock types. Gregory explores the world of meteorites to uncover new insights into what our solar system was like before our sun became a star, into the forging of our planet, and into the emergence of life on it"-- Provided by publisher.