![]() If a meteoroid comes close enough to Earth and enters Earth’s atmosphere, it vaporizes and turns into a meteor: a streak of light in the sky.īecause of their appearance, these streaks of light are sometimes called "shooting stars." But meteors are not actually stars.Īt certain times of the year, you might be lucky enough to see more meteors in the sky than usual. This can cause small pieces of the asteroid to break off. Sometimes one asteroid can smash into another. Most asteroids in our solar system can be found in the asteroid belt, between Mars and Jupiter. For example, some asteroids orbit the Sun in a path that takes them near Earth. But they can also hang out in other locations around the solar system. Most asteroids in our solar system are found in the main asteroid belt, a region between Mars and Jupiter. Image credit: NASA/JHUAPLĪsteroids are smaller than a planet, but they are larger than the pebble-size objects we call meteoroids. The photo was taken by NASA’s Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous - Shoemaker spacecraft in 2000. Read on to find out more and learn the difference between asteroids and comets, meteoroids and meteorites, and more!Īn asteroid is a small rocky body that orbits the Sun.Ī close-up view of Eros, an asteroid with an orbit that takes it somewhat close to Earth. ![]() A meteor is what happens when a small piece of an asteroid or comet, called a meteoroid, burns up upon entering Earth’s atmosphere. A meteor is what happens when a meteoroid – a small piece of an asteroid or comet – burns up upon entering Earth’s atmosphere, creating a streak of light in the sky.Īn asteroid is a small rocky object that orbits the Sun. Asteroids are smaller than a planet, but they are larger than the pebble-size objects we call meteoroids. Many of these asteroids then travel toward the inner solar system-where they can collide with Earth.įind out more-and see large fragments of the Cape York meteorite, including a 34-ton section known as Ahnighito-in the Museum's Arthur Ross Hall of Meteorites.An asteroid is a small rocky object that orbits the Sun. Asteroids, which are much smaller than planets, are sometimes pulled out of the asteroid belt by the force of Jupiter’s gravity. What Are Asteroids?Īsteroids are rocky bodies found mostly in the asteroid belt, between Mars and Jupiter. Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, and its gravity is very strong. The vast majority of meteorites are pieces of asteroids, the small rocky bodies that orbit the Sun mostly between Mars and Jupiter. In simplest terms, a meteorite is a rock that falls to Earth from space. As they vaporize, they leave behind the fiery trails sometimes called “shooting stars,” even though meteors are not really stars. The term “meteorite” refers only to those bodies that survive the trip through the atmosphere and reach Earth’s surface. But meteors-which are typically pieces of comet dust no larger than a grain of rice-burn up before reaching the ground. ![]() Meteors are not meteorites. Like meteorites, meteors are objects that enter Earth’s atmosphere from space. Discovered in 1894 in Greenland, this iron meteorite slammed into Earth some 10,000 years ago. The massive meteorite comes from the center of a small asteroid that broke apart.When you touch the 4.5-billion-year-old Cape York Meteorite, you are touching an object that is nearly as old as the Sun. The Cape York Meteorite is so heavy that supports from the largest of the three pieces go straight down to the bedrock beneath the Museum.
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