31 July 2013

Photographs Showcase Shimmering Interior of Meteorites





Astronomy photographer Jeff Barton shows that beauty can be found in the most unexpected places, including meteorites.



The meteorites are first broken with a rock saw and a diamond-coated blade, and are ground till they become thin enough for light to pass through.



The photographs are then taken with polarizing filters and a microscope which is used to view rocks.



As the crystals in these meteors catch different light frequencies, Barton is able to capture their iridescence, even rotating them at angles to get a kaleidoscope of color.



Although these crystals are beautiful, the colors actually tell the scientists the different types of minerals that make up the meteorites, helping them in their research.



View to view the rest of these photographs below.



































[via FastCo Design]