What is a meteor shower, and the difference between meteor, meteoroid, and meteorite? Nasa replies

One of the brightest meteor showers is likely to be seen above Earth today. This is the Tau Herculids meteor shower. So, before that, NASA reveals that shooting objects in space can be divided into 3 categories – Meteors, Meteoroids and Meteorites. Know the difference.

Meteor Shower: When meteor material falls towards Earth, most of it burns up while entering the atmosphere, leaving behind trails of shooting stars, according to NASA. This phenomenon is known as a Meteor Shower. (Pixabay)

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1/5 Meteor Shower: When meteor material falls towards Earth, most of it burns up while entering the atmosphere, leaving behind trails of shooting stars, according to NASA. This phenomenon is known as a Meteor Shower. (Pixabay)

Meteoroid: Meteoroids are objects in space that can range in size anywhere from a dust grain to an asteroid. Meteoroids can essentially be called “Space Rocks”. (Pixabay)

2/5 Meteoroid: Meteoroids are objects in space that can range in size anywhere from a dust grain to an asteroid. Meteoroids can essentially be called “Space Rocks”. (Pixabay)

Meteor: According to NASA, Meteors are objects in space which enter Earth’s atmosphere at high speed and burn up, and are visible in the form of fireballs or “shooting stars”. Meteor itself is a piece of a broken comet. (Pixabay)

3/5 Meteor: According to NASA, Meteors are objects in space which enter Earth’s atmosphere at high speed and burn up, and are visible in the form of fireballs or “shooting stars”. Meteor itself is a piece of a broken comet. (Pixabay)

Meteorite: When a Meteoroid becomes a Meteor, it enters a planet’s atmosphere. If the Meteor reaches the surface of the planet, which is Earth, without burning up completely, it is classified as a Meteorite. (Pixabay)

4/5 Meteorite: When a Meteoroid becomes a Meteor, it enters a planet’s atmosphere. If the Meteor reaches the surface of the planet, which is Earth, without burning up completely, it is classified as a Meteorite. (Pixabay)

Meteors have been responsible for some of the biggest events in history with the recent one being the Chelyabinsk disaster. (Pixabay)

5/5 Meteors have been responsible for some of the biggest events in history with the recent one being the Chelyabinsk disaster. (Pixabay)