Meteoroidien

Meteoroidien are small rocky or metallic bodies that travel through interplanetary space. They are smaller than most asteroids, with sizes ranging from millimeters to roughly a meter across, though some definitions extend to larger objects. They can originate from the debris of comets, from collisions between asteroids, or from material ejected by planetary bodies during impacts.

When a meteoroidien enters Earth's atmosphere, it experiences rapid heating and ablation, producing a bright streak known as a meteor or shooting star. Most meteoroidien burn up high in the atmosphere, but a portion may survive as meteorites, which can reach the surface and be collected for study.

Meteoroidien vary in composition and are commonly categorized as stony (silicate rocks), metallic (nickel-iron), or stony-iron mixtures. They also include micro-meteoroids, which are tiny particles that contribute to space dust.

Researchers study meteoroidien using telescopes, radar, and space missions to determine their trajectories, sizes, speeds, and compositions. The constant influx of micro-meteoroids adds trace amounts of material to the upper atmosphere and to the planetary surface over time.

Meteor showers are produced when Earth crosses streams of debris left by comets or, less commonly, asteroids. These events yield predictable periods of increased meteor activity and are named after the radiant point in the sky associated with the parent body.