A one-pound meteorite discovered in the Sahara in 2019, classified as Northwest Africa 12774 (NWA 12774), has provided evidence for a previously unknown planetary body from the early solar system.

This rare angrite meteorite, part of a class of volcanic rocks among the oldest known, contains minerals indicating pressures too high for a small asteroid, suggesting its origin from a Moon-sized or larger planetary embryo.

Researchers argue that the mineral composition and pressure readings imply the parent body was large enough to generate intense internal pressures near its surface, rather than deep within a smaller object.The study challenges previous assumptions about meteorite origins, as most are fragments of asteroids rather than planets.

NWA 12774's unique chemical fingerprint and volcanic history suggest it may represent a lost world that formed early in the solar system but was destroyed during chaotic planetary collisions.

This discovery highlights how meteorites can preserve evidence of ancient celestial bodies, offering insights into the dynamic processes that shaped the inner solar system.

The findings contribute to understanding planetary differentiation and the violent assembly of planets, with implications for the study of early solar system dynamics.