There are five things that scientists who study meteorites hope to learn that are important to a number of different scientific fields.

1. Star evolution – Some meteorites contain chemical specimens and grains of dust that were produced by stars before the formation of our solar system. Studies of these chemical specimens and the composition of the dust can increase our understanding of stars and their role in the universe.
2. Solar system evolution – We can learn about the changes in the conditions of the chemistry, temperature, and pressure of the early solar system from the study of the different components of meteorites.
3. Age and composition of the solar system – By studying and measuring the amounts of certain components in meteorites, we can estimate the age of the solar system and the order in which the different components of the meteorite—and the solar system—formed.
4. Geologic history of Earth and the Moon – Large meteorite impacts have helped shape the face of our planet and the Moon. Many scientists believe that a very large impact was even responsible for the formation of the Moon.
5. History of life – Meteorites may have brought to Earth the chemicals necessary for the origin of life.