meteorite

Also known as shooting star

thumb|The , Hoba meteorite in [[Namibia is the largest known intact meteorite.]]

AI overview

A meteorite is a rock from space that has fallen to Earth's surface. They matter to scientists because studying them helps us understand the composition and history of our solar system.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Wikidata facts

Image: Namibie Hoba Meteorite 05.JPG

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Commons category: Meteorites
Commons gallery: Meteorite
exact match: purl.obolibrary.org/obo/ENVO_00002035

Sources (4)

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~36 min read

Article

30 sections

Contents

Fall phenomena
Classification
Frequency
Chemistry
Sources of meteorites found on Earth
Weathering
Fossil meteorites
Collection
Falls
Finds
Canada
United States
Antarctica
Australia
The Sahara
Northwest Africa
Arabian Peninsula
In human affairs
Ceremonial or religious use
Historical writings
Striking people or property
Notable examples
Naming
Terrestrial
Extraterrestrial
Large impact craters
Disintegrating meteoroids
See also
References
External links

thumb|The , Hoba meteorite in [[Namibia is the largest known intact meteorite.]]

A meteorite is a rock that originated in outer space and has fallen to the surface of a planet or moon. When the original object enters the atmosphere, various factors such as friction, pressure, and chemical interactions with the atmospheric gases cause it to heat up and radiate energy. It then becomes a meteor and forms a fireball, also known as a shooting star; astronomers call the brightest examples "bolides". Once it settles on the larger body's surface, the meteor becomes a meteorite. Meteorites vary greatly in size. For geologists, a bolide is a meteorite large enough to create an impact crater.