Meteor, also known as Shooting star is an astronomical phenomenon of the passage of a solid object through the Earth's atmosphere from space.
These cosmic particles - called meteoroids -, when they come into contact with the Earth's atmosphere, they form a luminous effect, which differs depending on the chemical composition of the meteors.
Within astronomy, the arrival of meteors in the planet's atmosphere can happen in two ways: through "meteor showers" or "star showers"; and "sporadic meteors".
THE meteor shower it is characterized by the entry of several solid bodies into the Earth's atmosphere, forming several light trails apparently coming from only a single place in the sky, which is called the "Radiant".
The occurrence of meteor showers is common when there is the presence of a comet or asteroid in the vicinity of the planet. The small pieces that break off from these larger celestial bodies can be attracted by the Earth's gravitational field, causing them to pass through the atmosphere.
One sporadic meteor, in turn, does not belong to a meteor shower. The trajectory and occurrence of this type of meteor is defined by chance; an isolated act.
The term meteor it can also be used figuratively to define something intense and fleeting; an event that drew a lot of attention but was quickly forgotten.
See also:meaning of shooting star.
Difference between meteor and meteorite
You meteors they are solid bodies from space that manage to enter the Earth's atmosphere, but do not reach the Earth's surface. These pieces of rock ignite when they come into contact with the air and gases that form the atmosphere, forming just a light trail in the sky - also known as Shooting star.
You meteorites, in turn, are the meteors that manage to reach the Earth's surface, as they cannot completely defragment themselves during their entry into the planet's atmosphere. However, due to the great wear and tear it undergoes during the fall, a meteor of 4 meters in diameter hits the ground like a meteorite of approximately 1 meter.
Meteorology
THE meteorology is the name given to the study of a set of atmospheric phenomena, with the intention of predicting the Earth's climatic variations. Examples of phenomena that occur in the atmosphere: thunder, storms, blizzards, hurricanes, etc.
See also the meaning of asteroid.
