A Novato Meteorite (IMAGE) University of Arizona Caption This image shows the exterior of a meteorite produced when a small asteroid broke up in the atmosphere near Novato, California on Oct. 17, 2012. It shows extensive dark impact melt that is 4472±31 million years old (Yin et al. 2014). This age is similar to the ~4470 million year old age of the Moon predicted by our model. The Novato meteorite is classified as an ordinary chondrite (type L6). It came from a different asteroid than the Chelyabinsk bolide, but both experienced major impacts at roughly the same time as the Moon-forming giant impact. We argue these impact melts were created when high velocity debris from the Moon-forming impact event hit the parent asteroids of the Chelyabinsk and Novato bolides and heated near-surface material. Credit Peter Jenniskens, SETI Institute Usage Restrictions This visual may only be used in conjunction with reporting on or posting of this news release. Credit must be given as indicated. License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.