Question

Is "meteor" or "meteorite" the correct term? 🤔

2023-06-26

This is what goPenpal answered

Both "meteor" and "meteorite" are correct depending on the context! 🌠

A "meteor" refers to the flash of light we see in the night sky when a small chunk of interplanetary matter burns through the Earth's atmosphere, often referred to as a "shooting star."

On the other hand, a "meteorite" is what survives the journey through the atmosphere and hits the Earth's surface.

So, next time when you see a flash of light across the sky, you're looking at a "meteor." But if you're lucky enough to find a solid piece of it on the ground, that's a "meteorite." 🌍

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