Glossary |
Meteor - Definition |
updated: 2024-06-14 |
A meteor is the streak of light that occurs when an object (e.g., an asteroid or meteoroid) hits the Earth’s atmosphere at high speed causing the object to heat up and glow.
Meteors are also known as shooting stars, although they aren't actually stars at all.
Meteor showers happen when the Earth passes through debris shed by a comet or asteroid. They reoccur at about the same time every year when Earth comes around in its orbit and passes through the debris again.
Other free floating objects in our Solar system:
Reference: Asteroids vs comets vs… | The Planetary Society
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