Meteors are typically small in size, while meteorites are larger. Once the meteor reaches the Earths atmosphere, it is called a meteor, but if it survives the impact and hits the ground, it is already called a meteorite. Meteors are burning rocks, while meteorites contain a combination of metal, magnetic elements and nickel.ģ. Meteors are debris considered to be part of the Solar System, and they can either burn up, hit the ground or deflect off the Earth’s atmosphere while meteorites are meteors which hit the surface of the Earth after their flight.Ģ. When it comes to their size, meteors can be too small to survive their flight to the Earth, that is why they either burn up or bounce back, while meteorites are typically larger in size, and that is why they typically survive the flight and land on the Earth’s surface.ġ. Learn the difference between a meteoroid, meteor, and meteorite with this quick flash card video. Siderolites or iron-stony meteorites – which are the rarest kind, and contain almost a half-and-half percentage of iron and stone. Siderites or iron meteorites – which are very heavy.ģ. Aerolite – which look like ordinary stones.Ģ. The three basic kinds of meteorites include:ġ. If meteors are burning rocks, meteorites contain some metal, magnetic elements and nickel. Meteorites are rocks which are sometimes made up of broken pieces of planets, or they can be parts of comets. However, the sure destination of meteorites is the Earth’s surface. Some meteor showers occur annually or at regular intervals as the Earth. When there are lots more meteors, you’re watching a meteor shower. Several meteors per hour can usually be seen on any given night. Asteroids are often confused with meteoroids, meteors, and meteorites. When a meteoroid survives its trip through the atmosphere and hits the ground, it’s called a meteorite. In some instances, meteors deflect off the Earth’s atmosphere and go back into space. Near Earth objects, or NEOs for short, are asteroids located close to Earth. A small body starts its life as a meteoroid floating through space between the planets until it makes a bright streak of light in Earth’s atmosphere as a meteor and then, if it isn’t consumed by frictional heating, finally lands. The chunk that has survived its fiery journey is called a meteorite. In some cases, however, the meteoroid does not completely burn up, and the object actually makes it to Earth’s surface. What other distinct differences do these two have? Since meteors take the form of burning rocks from outer space, which can be seen streaking across the sky, most of them actually burn up before hitting the Earth. Most meteoroids that enter the atmosphere burn up completely as meteors. As mentioned earlier, it can already be called a meteorite if a meteor enters the Earth’s atmosphere, and then hits the ground. On the other hand, a meteorite is an object which originates from outer space. This spectacle in the sky is definitely something to marvel at, and they occur regularly. You might have already heard about meteor showers, a popular example of which is the Leonid meteor shower. Once the meteor reaches the Earth’s atmosphere, it is called a meteor, but if it survives the impact and hits the ground, it is already called a meteorite. But do you really know the difference between the two?Īlso called shooting stars, falling stars or meteoroids, meteors are debris which are considered to be part of the Solar System. Whether you’re still in school or already working, one of the most interesting topics that you will ever come across are meteors and meteorites.

Meteor vs meteorite vs meteoroid