Nomenclature:
The word "meteor" is used in
numerous words and many of them refer to
the same rock that traveled through space.
However, they should not be
used interchangibly, as each word means different things.
This
list will define the common words we will use
and what they mean exactly.
- Asteroid:
Rocky or metallic bodies
in space.
- Comet:
Icy objects in space consisting of ice, volatile materials, and some
solid grains. Most visible when near the sun, where a tiny atmosphere
and a trail is temporarily formed.
- Meteor:
A large rocky/metallic
particle
passing through a planet's atmosphere from space, though it mostly
refers to the resulting visual from below. Also called a
"shooting
star".
- Meteorite: A rocky/metallic object
from space that has breached a planet's atmosphere and remains on the
planet. Basically, what's left of a meteor after hitting the ground.
- Meteoroid:
A rocky/metallic
natural space object that orbits close to a planet and can be up to
100m diameter. They are often not as big as asteroids.
There are also different types
of meteoroids/meteorites depending on
the composition, as will be elaborated upon in the next page.