Differences between asteroid, meteorite and meteor
In recent days we have talked a lot about meteorites, meteors and asteroids, due to the passage of a 50 meter rock brushing the Earth and the collision of a meteorite against Russia. But what is the difference between a meteorite, an asteroid and a meteor? Next, in a PROFESSOR we review the main nomenclature so that, from now on, we cannot get confused any more.
Index
- Asteroid: definition
- What is a meteoroid
- What is a meteor
- Racing cars: what are they
- What is a meteorite
Asteroid: definition.
An asteroid is a body rocky or metallic, devoid of atmosphere, which orbits around the sun. However, they are too small to be classified as planets. They would be something like minor planets. In fact, the famous 2012 DA14, the rock that brushed past us a few years ago, is an asteroid.
Most of these asteroids are found gathered in the so-called asteroid belt located between Mars and Jupiter.
What is a meteoroid.
What struck the heart of Russia a few years ago measured just 17 meters. Depending on the size, it is a meteoroid. These would be
minor bodies of the Solar System, objects up to 50 meters in diameter, much smaller than an asteroid.However, the relationship of what is a meteoroid and what is not is not harmonized. The Royal Astronomila Society considers that a meteoroid cannot exceed ten meters in diameter.
What is a meteor.
The meteor is just the incandescent trail and luminous that leaves behind a meteoroid when crossing or entering the atmosphere. The videos of the meteorite impact in Russia show precisely the meteor, the luminous tail, at the tip of which is the meteoroid.
Racing cars: what are they.
Racing cars are called meteors that shine a lot and that they can eclipse the light of the Sun (if it goes to this extreme it would be a Superbolide). They are also known as fireballs.
What is a meteorite.
A meteor is the rest of a meteor that survives to the passage of entrance to the atmosphere. These come to impact the earth, and are only meteorites if they impact with it. Otherwise they are still meteoroids.
If you want to read more articles similar to Differences between asteroid, meteorite and meteor, we recommend that you enter our category of Astronomy.
