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What is a meteor?

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Quick answer

A meteor is the streak of light you see when a small space rock burns up in Earth's atmosphere — a 'shooting star. ' Friction with the air heats it white-hot in seconds. If any survives to land, it's called a meteorite.

Key things to understand

  1. It's the bright streak from space debris entering the atmosphere.
  2. Air friction heats the rock until it glows and vaporizes.
  3. Most are tiny — no bigger than a grain of sand.
  4. It's a meteoroid in space, a meteor in the sky, a meteorite if it lands.
  5. Meteor showers happen when Earth passes through a comet's debris trail.

People also ask

What makes a meteor glow?
Friction with the air heats the fast-moving rock to thousands of degrees, making it and the surrounding air glow as it burns up.
What's the difference between a meteor and a meteorite?
A meteor is the streak of light in the sky; a meteorite is the piece that survives and reaches the ground.
What causes a meteor shower?
Earth passing through the trail of dust a comet left behind, so many particles burn up at once.

Part of the guide: Space & Astronomy →