Cosmic Mysteries Come Alive in Burgas: "Meteorites" Exhibition Reveals Secrets of the Universe

🌠 Every day, tens of thousands of tiny space rock fragments enter Earth's atmosphere. Most are no larger than a grain of rice and burn up before reaching the ground, but those that survive hold invaluable clues to the history of our Solar System.

The Natural History Museum in Burgas presents the “Meteorites” exhibition—an impressive collection donated by the duo Andrey Barakshin and Georgi Penev, researchers and passionate collectors. Some of the exhibited samples are their personal discoveries from various continents.

The exhibition showcases the main types of meteorites: stony (chondrites and achondrites), stony-iron (pallasites), and iron meteorites. The samples originate from countries like Sweden, Czech Republic, China, Cuba, Chile, Morocco, Namibia, and others.

Highlights include the Imilac meteorite, discovered in the Atacama Desert (Chile) in 1822; Vinales, which fell in Cuba in 2019; and the famous Chelyabinsk chondrite that struck Russia in 2013.

Visitors will also see tektites—glassy formations created from meteorite impacts on Earth's surface—as well as shock-altered rocks from meteorite craters. Many of the meteorites on display come from Morocco, where meteorite hunting has become a local livelihood.

Seven information panels answer important questions: how to identify a meteorite, how to distinguish it from terrestrial rocks, and how to determine whether it came from the Moon, Mars, or other celestial bodies.

A special focus is placed on the massive meteorite impacts that shaped Earth's evolution—including one believed to have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs.

A video presentation in the hall explores meteorites’ effects on our planet and human civilization. Fascinating stories about meteorite discoveries in Bulgaria are also shared.

QR codes on the panels lead to further information on the official website of the Regional History Museum – Burgas.

📅 The exhibition will be open to visitors on May 17 (Saturday), from 6:00 PM until midnight.