meteoroid

References

meteoroid

astronomy

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

A meteoroid is a small, rocky, or metallic object in space that orbits the Sun. These objects are typically fragments of asteroids or comets, ranging in size from dust particles to boulders.1234

When a meteoroid enters Earth's atmosphere at high speed, it heats up due to friction, creating a streak of light known as a meteor. These are often called "shooting stars" or "falling stars". Most meteors burn up completely in the atmosphere.156

If a meteoroid survives its fiery passage through the atmosphere and lands on Earth's surface, it is then called a meteorite. Meteorites can be studied in laboratories, providing valuable insights into the early solar system.574

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

8 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

meteor and meteoroid
meteoroid, respectively, a glowing streak in the sky (meteor) and its cause, which is a relatively small stony or metallic natural object from space (meteoroid) that enters Earth’s atmosphere and heats to incandescence. In modern usage the term meteoroid, rather than being restricted to objects…
Read More
meteoroid, respectively, a glowing streak in the sky (meteor) and its cause, which is a relatively small stony or metallic natural object from space (meteoroid) that enters Earth’s atmosphere and heats to incandescence. In modern usage the term meteoroid, rather than being restricted to objects…
Read More

meteor shower
…atmosphere of a number of meteoroids (see meteor and meteoroid) at approximately the same place in the sky and the same time of year, traveling in parallel paths and apparently having a common origin. Most meteor showers are known or believed to be associated with active or defunct comets; they…
Read More
…atmosphere of a number of meteoroids (see meteor and meteoroid) at approximately the same place in the sky and the same time of year, traveling in parallel paths and apparently having a common origin. Most meteor showers are known or believed to be associated with active or defunct comets; they…
Read More

astronomy
Investigations of the smaller bodies
…asteroids and comets are the meteoroids, lumps of stony or metallic material believed to be mostly fragments of asteroids. Meteoroids vary from small rocks to boulders weighing a ton or more. A relative few have orbits that bring them into Earth’s atmosphere and down to the surface as meteorites. Most…
Read More
…asteroids and comets are the meteoroids, lumps of stony or metallic material believed to be mostly fragments of asteroids. Meteoroids vary from small rocks to boulders weighing a ton or more. A relative few have orbits that bring them into Earth’s atmosphere and down to the surface as meteorites. Most…
Read More

small body
…fragments of such bodies—commonly called meteoroids—over a continuum of sizes down to microscopic grains known as interplanetary dust particles or micrometeoroids. The term small body is sometimes restricted to objects that can be observed telescopically while still outside Earth’s atmosphere. In practice, that results in a lower limit of a…
Read More
…fragments of such bodies—commonly called meteoroids—over a continuum of sizes down to microscopic grains known as interplanetary dust particles or micrometeoroids. The term small body is sometimes restricted to objects that can be observed telescopically while still outside Earth’s atmosphere. In practice, that results in a lower limit of a…
Read More

What’s the Difference Between a Meteoroid, a Meteor, and a Meteorite?
…space and is called a meteoroid.
Read More
…space and is called a meteoroid.
Read More