The primary function of this database is to provide authoritative information about meteorite names, initial descriptions, classifications, and type-specimen repositories. The correct spelling, including punctuation and diacritical marks, of all officially recognized meteorites and their dense collection areas, as approved by the Nomenclature Committee of the Meteoritical Society, may be found in this compilation.
Database stats: 80093 valid meteorite names (includes relict meteorites); 6191 provisional names; 18521 full-text writeups.
News feed for newly approved meteorites:
RSS
Data sources:
- The Catalogue of Meteorites: 2002 June (current through Met. Bull 87).
- MetBase: v7.2 (current through Met. Bull. 89).
- Antarctic Meteorite Newsletter: through 49(1), 2026 May.
- Meteorite Newsletter (NIPR): through v.28, 2021.
- Meteoritical Bulletin: through Met. Bull. 114, 2026.
- Meteoritical Bulletin: 115 (2026): Meteorites approved through 15 Jul 2026.
- Provisional names: Provisional names (all approved by NomCom).
- Earth Impact Database: 27 June 2026.
Other tools:
- Use the Meteorite Name Checking Utility to check multiple names at once, e.g., as an aid for manuscript submission.
- View a list of Collections and repositories.
- View a list of Dense Collection Areas.
- Use the Meteorite Mapping Utility to see all meteorites in a geographic area.
NomCom resources:
- NomCom membership: 2026 Nomenclature Committee
- Guidelines: Guidelines for Meteorite Nomenclature (2026 version)
- Antarctic nomenclature: Procedures for naming Antarctic meteorites
- Fall categories: Definitions of meteorite fall categories used by NomCom
- MetBull archive: Archive of past issues of Meteoritical Bulletin
- Procedures: Operating procedures for Nomenclature Committee (2026 version)
- Obtaining meteorite names: How to request names for meteorites
- FAQ: Frequently asked questions about meteorite nomenclature
- Publication guidelines: Guidelines for using meteorite names in publications
