Hed meteorites originate from the asteroid Vesta.
- The Howardite-Eucrite-Diogenite (HED) meteorite group is widely accepted to come from Vesta, based on spectral similarities and the Dawn mission findings that link Vesta genetically to these meteorites.
- Vesta is one of the largest and earliest-forming bodies in the asteroid belt, and it underwent differentiation, producing crust and mantle materials that are sampled by HED meteorites.
- While Ceres, Pallas, and Mars are other notable bodies in the asteroid belt or inner Solar System, the specific parent for the HED meteorites is Vesta. Estimates commonly cite that a minority of meteorites originate from Vesta (~1 in 16) among known samples, reflecting source distribution among ancient asteroid fragments.
