Meteor

A meteor is the visible path of a meteoroid that enters the Earth's (or another body's) atmosphere, commonly called a shooting star or falling star. The visibility is due to the heat produced by the ram pressure (not friction, as is commonly assumed) of atmospheric entry. A very bright meteor, brighter than the apparent magnitude of Venus, may be called a fireball or bolide.

Related Topics:
Meteoroid - Earth's - Atmosphere - Ram pressure - Friction - Atmospheric entry - Venus - Bolide

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

If a meteoroid survives its transit of the atmosphere to come to rest on the surface, the resulting object is called a meteorite.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A meteor striking the Earth or other object may produce an impact crater.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Molten terrestrial material "splashed" from such a crater can cool and solidify into an object known as a tektite.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Meteor dust particles left by falling meteoroids can persist in the atmosphere for up to several months. These particles might affect climate, both by scattering electromagnetic radiation and by catalyzing chemical reactions in the upper atmosphere.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~