Meteors

Meteors

Meteors are solid particles from space, larger than atoms but much smaller than asteroids, that burn up in the earth's atmosphere.
When in space they are called meteoroids. Some of the meteoroids survive passing through the earth's atmosphere. Any part of a meteoroid that reaches the earth is called a meteorite. There are two types of meteorites: nickel-iron meteorites (called irons) and stoney meteorites (called stones).
Occasionally a meteor is extremely bright; it is called a fireball. [VH] {SR}