Meteoriitteina

Meteoriitteina refers to the plural form of meteorite in Finnish. A meteorite is a solid piece of debris from an object, such as a comet, asteroid, or meteoroid, that originates in outer space and survives its passage through the Earth's atmosphere to reach the surface. The object from which meteorites originate is called a meteoroid. When a meteoroid enters Earth's atmosphere at high speed, friction with the air causes it to heat up and produce a streak of light, which is called a meteor or, colloquially, a shooting star. If the object is large enough to not completely vaporize in the atmosphere and actually lands on the ground, the remaining piece is called a meteorite.

Meteorites are broadly classified into three main types: stony meteorites, iron meteorites, and stony-iron meteorites. Stony meteorites are the most common type and are composed primarily of silicate minerals. Iron meteorites are composed mainly of an iron-nickel alloy. Stony-iron meteorites are a mixture of both stony and metallic material. The study of meteorites is crucial for understanding the composition and history of the solar system, as they can provide direct samples of material from other celestial bodies. Analyzing their chemical composition, structure, and isotopic ratios allows scientists to learn about the formation of planets, the early conditions of the solar system, and even the potential for life beyond Earth. Some meteorites have even been found to contain organic molecules, suggesting that the building blocks of life may have been delivered to Earth from space.