Meteors

• Define and tell the difference between a meteoroid, meteor, and meteorite.

• Explain how a meteor is formed and why it glows in the sky.

• Describe where meteor showers come from and how they relate to comets.

• Understand why meteorites are important for science and their different types.

Key Vocabulary

Meteor

A streak of light seen when a meteoroid burns up upon entering Earth's atmosphere.

Meteoroid

A small piece of rock or dust floating in space, often from an asteroid or comet.

Meteorite

A meteoroid that survives its journey through the atmosphere and lands on Earth's surface.

Meteor Shower

An event where many meteors are seen as Earth passes through a trail of comet debris.

From Meteoroid to Meteor

• A meteoroid is a small piece of rock or dust from an asteroid or comet.

• ​Earth's gravity pulls the meteoroid into the atmosphere at a high speed.

• Friction with the air makes the meteoroid so hot that it starts to vaporize.

• We see this glowing trail as a meteor, or a "shooting star."

What Are Meteor Showers?

• Meteoroids often cluster in long trails of debris left behind by comets.

• A meteor shower occurs when Earth passes through one of these trails.

• Famous showers are the Perseids in August and the Geminids in December.

• For the best view, find a dark sky on the shower’s peak dates.

Meteorites

• ​Most meteoroids completely vaporize upon entering the atmosphere.

• ​​If a meteoroid is large enough, a small core can survive the journey.

• ​A meteoroid that strikes the surface of the Earth is called a meteorite.

Impact Craters

• ​Impact craters are large, bowl-shaped holes found on a planet's surface.

• ​​They are formed when a very large meteorite collides with the Earth.

• ​The immense force of the impact creates a huge explosion, carving the crater.

Types of Meteorites

Stony Meteorites

• ​These are the most common type of meteorite found on Earth.

• ​​They are made of silicate minerals, similar to rocks on Earth.

• ​Stony meteorites can often have a dark, burned-looking outer crust.

Iron Meteorites

• ​Iron meteorites are composed mainly of iron and nickel metal alloys.

• ​​They are much denser and heavier than most rocks on Earth.

• ​Their surfaces often show pits and a melted, weathered appearance.

Stony-Iron Meteorites

• ​These rare meteorites contain a mixture of rock and metal.

• ​​They are a mix of silicate minerals and shiny iron-nickel metal.

• ​Scientists think they formed where rocky and metallic materials were mixing.

• A meteoroid is a space rock, a meteor is a light streak, and a meteorite reaches Earth.

• Meteors glow from heat caused by air compression and friction in the atmosphere.

• Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through a comet's trail of debris.

• Meteorites are classified into three types: stony, iron, or stony-iron.

• Studying meteorites helps us understand the formation of our solar system.