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Meteors and Meteorites

Part of Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Hall of the Universe.

Meteors and meteorites_HERO AMNH/D. Finnin

Exhibition Text

Meteors, also known as shooting stars, are pebble-size fragments of comets and asteroids streaking through Earth’s upper atmosphere. Air friction causes these objects to glow and vaporize. Larger Pieces can survive the descent to Earth, and are then called meteorites.

For Educators

Topic: Earth Science