Meteor

Definition

A meteor is a streak of light produced when a meteoroid enters Earth's atmosphere and vaporizes due to friction with air molecules. Often called 'shooting stars,' they are typically very brief in duration.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. A meteor is the visible path of a meteoroid as it enters the Earth's atmosphere and burns up.
2. Meteors can vary in brightness, with some being faint and others producing fireballs.
3. The majority of meteors originate from cometary debris left behind by comets as they orbit the Sun.
4. Most meteors disintegrate before reaching the ground, but if any fragment survives, it is called a meteorite.
5. Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through the debris trail of a comet, leading to an increased number of visible meteors.

Review Questions

• What causes a meteor to become visible in Earth's atmosphere?
• How do meteor showers form?
• What happens to most meteors before they reach the ground?

Related terms

Meteoroid:

A small rocky or metallic body traveling through space that becomes a meteor when it enters Earth's atmosphere.

Meteorite:

A fragment of a meteoroid that survives its passage through the atmosphere and lands on Earth's surface.

Comet:

An icy small Solar System body that releases gas or dust and can leave behind debris that causes meteor showers.