A meteoroid is a small rocky or metallic body in outer space. source
A meteoroid is a small rocky or metallic body in outer space.
When a meteoroid, comet, or asteroid enters Earth's atmosphere at a speed typically in excess of 20 km/s (72,000 km/h; 45,000 mph). source
When a meteoroid, comet, or asteroid enters Earth's atmosphere at a speed typically in excess of 20 km/s (72,000 km/h; 45,000 mph).
A series of many meteors appearing seconds or minutes apart and appearing to originate from the same fixed point in the sky is called a meteor shower. source
A series of many meteors appearing seconds or minutes apart and appearing to originate from the same fixed point in the sky is called a meteor shower.
An estimated 15,000 tonnes of meteoroids, micrometeoroids and different forms of space dust enter Earth's atmosphere each year. source
An estimated 15,000 tonnes of meteoroids, micrometeoroids and different forms of space dust enter Earth's atmosphere each year.
The composition of meteoroids can be inferred as they pass through Earth's atmosphere from their trajectories and the light spectra of the resulting meteor. source
The composition of meteoroids can be inferred as they pass through Earth's atmosphere from their trajectories and the light spectra of the resulting meteor.
A meteor shower is a celestial event in which a number of meteors are observed to radiate, or originate, from one point in the night sky. source
A meteor shower is a celestial event in which a number of meteors are observed to radiate, or originate, from one point in the night sky.
The most visible meteor shower in most years are the Perseids, which peak on 12 August of each year at over one meteor per minute. source
The most visible meteor shower in most years are the Perseids, which peak on 12 August of each year at over one meteor per minute.
The Leonid meteor shower peaks around 17 November of each year. Approximately every 33 years, the Leonid shower produces a meteor storm, peaking at rates of thousands of meteors per hour. source
The Leonid meteor shower peaks around 17 November of each year. Approximately every 33 years, the Leonid shower produces a meteor storm, peaking at rates of thousands of meteors per hour.
Some meteoroids are pieces of planets or moons, such as Mars or our moon, that have been thrown into space by an impact. source
Some meteoroids are pieces of planets or moons, such as Mars or our moon, that have been thrown into space by an impact.
On January 17, 2013 at 05:21 PST, a 1 meter-sized comet from the Oort cloud entered Earth atmosphere over a wide area in California and Nevada source
On January 17, 2013 at 05:21 PST, a 1 meter-sized comet from the Oort cloud entered Earth atmosphere over a wide area in California and Nevada
A noted 4-meter asteroid, 2008 TC3, was observed in space on a collision course with Earth on 6 October 2008 and entered Earth's atmosphere the next day, striking a remote area of northern Sudan. source
A noted 4-meter asteroid, 2008 TC3, was observed in space on a collision course with Earth on 6 October 2008 and entered Earth's atmosphere the next day, striking a remote area of northern Sudan.
Meteors become visible between about 75 to 120 km (47 to 75 mi) above Earth. source
Meteors become visible between about 75 to 120 km (47 to 75 mi) above Earth.
Meteors have roughly a fifty percent chance of a daylight (or near daylight) collision with Earth. source
Meteors have roughly a fifty percent chance of a daylight (or near daylight) collision with Earth.
Most meteors are, however, observed at night, when darkness allows fainter objects to be recognized. source
Most meteors are, however, observed at night, when darkness allows fainter objects to be recognized.
On October 8 2009, A large fireball was observed in the skies near Bone, Indonesia source
On October 8 2009, A large fireball was observed in the skies near Bone, Indonesia
The Chelyabinsk meteor was a superbolide caused by a near-Earth asteroid that entered Earth's atmosphere over Russia on 15 February 2013 , with a speed of 19.16 ± 0.15 kilometres per second. source
The Chelyabinsk meteor was a superbolide caused by a near-Earth asteroid that entered Earth's atmosphere over Russia on 15 February 2013 , with a speed of 19.16 ± 0.15 kilometres per second.
The Chelyabinsk meteor lightwas brighter than the Sun, visible up to 100 km away. It was observed over a wide area of the region and in neighbouring republics. source
The Chelyabinsk meteor lightwas brighter than the Sun, visible up to 100 km away. It was observed over a wide area of the region and in neighbouring republics.
A meteorite is a bright streak of light in the sky, often referred to as a "shooting star" or "falling star" and it is simply material from the solar system falling to Earth. source
A meteorite is a bright streak of light in the sky, often referred to as a "shooting star" or "falling star" and it is simply material from the solar system falling to Earth.
The Hoba Meteorite is the largest known meteorite on the planet, weighing in at a whopping 60 tons, source
The Hoba Meteorite is the largest known meteorite on the planet, weighing in at a whopping 60 tons,
The Willamette Meteorite. This is the largest meteorite ever found in the United States at 15.5 tons and stands ten feet tall. source
The Willamette Meteorite. This is the largest meteorite ever found in the United States at 15.5 tons and stands ten feet tall.
The Allende Meteorite. This meteorite crashed to Earth over Mexico in 1969 and was originally about the size of a car before it broke into hundreds of fragments that weighed several tons in total. source
The Allende Meteorite. This meteorite crashed to Earth over Mexico in 1969 and was originally about the size of a car before it broke into hundreds of fragments that weighed several tons in total.
Scientists estimate that 44 tonnes (44,000 kilograms, about 48.5 tons) of meteoritic material falls on the Earth each day. source
Scientists estimate that 44 tonnes (44,000 kilograms, about 48.5 tons) of meteoritic material falls on the Earth each day.
Did you know that buying and selling of meteorite pieces in South Africa is illegal. source
Did you know that buying and selling of meteorite pieces in South Africa is illegal.
A very large asteroid impact 65 million years ago, which created the 300-kilometer-wide (180-mile-wide) Chicxulub crater on the Yucatan Peninsula, is thought to have contributed to the extinction of about 75 percent of marine and land animals on Earth at source
A very large asteroid impact 65 million years ago, which created the 300-kilometer-wide (180-mile-wide) Chicxulub crater on the Yucatan Peninsula, is thought to have contributed to the extinction of about 75 percent of marine and land animals on Earth at
In 1478 BCE: First recorded observation of meteors. source
In 1478 BCE: First recorded observation of meteors.
1794: Ernst Friedrich Chladni publishes the first book on meteorites, in which he proposes that they have an extraterrestrial origin. source
1794: Ernst Friedrich Chladni publishes the first book on meteorites, in which he proposes that they have an extraterrestrial origin.
Heat Shield Rock is a basketball-sized iron-nickel meteorite found on Mars by the Mars rover Opportunity in January 2005. source
Heat Shield Rock is a basketball-sized iron-nickel meteorite found on Mars by the Mars rover Opportunity in January 2005.
