陨石分类的最终目标是将所有的陨石标本分门别类的组合起来，同一个群的陨石有一个单一的、可供识别的源头。这个源头可能是行星、小行星、月球、或现存于太阳系的其它天体，或是过去某一段时间存在的天体（例如，粉碎的小行星）。然而，除了少数的例外，目前的科学还不足以达成这个目标，主要是因为大多数太阳系天体的本质和系统机构还没有足够的信息（特别是小行星和彗星）可以来实现这样的分类。替代的是，现在的陨石分类是依赖物理的、化学的、同位素的、和矿物等的性质，将有相同特质的标本聚集在一起，将它们视为来自同一个母体，即使这个母体尚未被确认。以这种方式分类的陨石群，可能有几个群是来自单一的母体、异构的母体，或是一个群中的成员，来自非常相似但特性不同的母体。这些信息来自光谱，因此这种分类系统最有可能发展的。

The ultimate goal of meteorite classification is to group all meteorite specimens that share a common origin on a single, identifiable parent body. This could be a planet, asteroid, Moon, or other current Solar System object, or one that existed some time in the past (e.g. a shattered asteroid). However, with a few exceptions, this goal is beyond the reach of current science, mostly because there is inadequate information about the nature of most Solar System bodies (especially asteroids and comets) to achieve such a classification. Instead, modern meteorite classification relies on placing specimens into "groups" in which all members share certain key physical, chemical, isotopic, and mineralogical properties consistent with a common origin on a single parent body, even if that body is unidentified. Several meteorite groups classified this way may come from a single, heterogeneous parent body or a single group may contain members that came from a variety of very similar but distinct parent bodies. As such information comes to light, the classification system will most likely evolve.