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AllThePrettyPenguins t1_ja5b3mf wrote

For starters, only 29% of the planet's surface is land above sea level so statistically a meteorite is more likely to hit water, all else being equal.

The fragments that hit land may not end up in an accessible area, and may not be easy to find depending on the type of terrain.

Basically, when a fragment lands in Antarctica, it will remain relatively near the surface of the ice and snow cover. The dark or black colour can sometimes absorb just enough energy to warm and melt the icy material around it and become visible on the surface. Broadly speaking, when searchers spot a rocky object on the surface where there are no other rock sources around, it could be a fragment.

Shorter answer: they are far easier to spot against ice and snow.

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boundegar t1_ja5go7m wrote

Also, they would have to land at a shallow angle, which leaves them closer to the surface... maybe?

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--BenjaminDanklin-- t1_ja6j19s wrote

Why would they have to land at a shallow angle?

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Euhn t1_ja6p0r7 wrote

Because most of the objects in our solar system are on the same plane of rotation around the sun. Planets are all very closely aligned, most of the objects that could impact Earth are on a similar trajectory. If an object hits near the equator, the faster and deeper it dives into the atmosphere, generating heat and ablating itself before it hits the ground. Objects etering near the poles have a longer time to slow down in less dense atmosphere. Less likely to burn up before reaching the ground.

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boundegar t1_ja78dsp wrote

Also, a rock that came in at a steep angle would probably bury itself.

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is-this-a-nick t1_ja7h1hm wrote

Does not matter. Any small meteorite will reach terminal velocity before impact, and and large one is more likely to explode into fragments under a steep angle.

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Corntillas t1_ja7ptty wrote

Makes me want a “reverse-kerbal” game where you have to design and launch meteorites that successfully make it through atmospheres and seed planets

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