meteoroidssmall

Meteoroids are small rocky or metallic objects that travel through space. They are typically fragments of comets or asteroids, ranging in size from a grain of sand to several meters across. When a meteoroid enters Earth's atmosphere, it becomes a meteor, often visible as a "shooting star" due to the heat generated by friction with the air. Most meteoroids disintegrate completely in the atmosphere, but some larger ones can reach the Earth's surface as meteorites. The study of meteoroids and meteorites provides valuable information about the composition and history of the solar system. Meteoroids can also pose a risk to spacecraft and satellites, as they can cause damage upon impact. The term "meteoroid" is often used interchangeably with "meteorite" and "meteor," but they refer to different stages of the same object's journey through space.