meteoroid
Tiny cosmic wanderer
A meteoroid is a small rocky or metallic body traveling through space.
Meteoroids range from grain-sized particles to objects a few meters across—larger bodies are asteroids, smaller ones are interplanetary dust.
When a meteoroid enters Earth's atmosphere, friction heats it into a glowing meteor; any fragment that survives to reach the ground becomes a meteorite.
Gaseous layer around planets
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
- ablationRemoval by cutting, melting
- ionizationCharge acquisition process
- vaporizationConversion to gas
streak · luminous · fireball · bolide · trail · heating · plasma · incandescent
Element twenty-six
- silicateOxygen-bound crystal compound
- chondriteMeteorite containing round grains
- stony-ironMeteorite with both components
- carbonaceousContaining or composed of carbon
metallic · mineral · rocky · dust · particle · fragment · debris · grain
Path of moving object
- ellipticalOval-shaped or indirect
- perihelionOrbital point nearest sun
- aphelionFarthest point from sun
- velocityDirected rate of motion
orbital · path · heliocentric · eccentric · inclination · perturbation · gravitational · sun
Science of celestial objects
- planetaryOf or relating to worlds
- isotopeElemental variant by mass
- datingPursuing romantic connections
- analysisMethodical study of parts
sample · classification · study · research · astrophysics · spectral
Impact or volcanic basin
- collisionForceful contact between objects
- strikeForceful impact or stoppage
- bombardmentSustained projectile assault
- kineticRelating to motion
ejecta · shockwave · excavation · impactor · surface · pockmarked · scarring · lunar
Sun-orbiting rocky mass
- cometIcy orbiting body
- debrisScattered broken fragments
- fragmentationBreaking into smaller pieces
- collisionForceful contact between objects
ejecta · protoplanetary · accretion · remnant · primordial · breakup · source · expelled
Radio-wave object detection
- telescopeInstrument magnifying faraway objects
- observatoryFacility for celestial study
- trackingMonitoring location over time
- surveySystematic data collection
monitoring · infrared · spectroscopy · photometry · observation · catalog · NEO · warning
atmosphere
Gaseous layer around planets
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
- ablationRemoval by cutting, melting
- ionizationCharge acquisition process
vaporization · streak · luminous · fireball · bolide · trail · heating · plasma · incandescent · disintegration
iron
Element twenty-six
- silicateOxygen-bound crystal compound
- chondriteMeteorite containing round grains
- stony-ironMeteorite with both components
carbonaceous · metallic · mineral · rocky · dust · particle · fragment · debris · grain · nickel
trajectory
Path of moving object
- ellipticalOval-shaped or indirect
- perihelionOrbital point nearest sun
- aphelionFarthest point from sun
velocity · orbital · path · heliocentric · eccentric · inclination · perturbation · gravitational · sun · inbound
astronomy
Science of celestial objects
- planetaryOf or relating to worlds
- isotopeElemental variant by mass
- datingPursuing romantic connections
analysis · sample · classification · study · research · astrophysics · spectral
crater
Impact or volcanic basin
- collisionForceful contact between objects
- strikeForceful impact or stoppage
- bombardmentSustained projectile assault
kinetic · ejecta · shockwave · excavation · impactor · surface · pockmarked · scarring · lunar · martian
asteroid
Sun-orbiting rocky mass
- cometIcy orbiting body
- debrisScattered broken fragments
- fragmentationBreaking into smaller pieces
collision · ejecta · protoplanetary · accretion · remnant · primordial · breakup · source · expelled · shed
radar
Radio-wave object detection
- telescopeInstrument magnifying faraway objects
- observatoryFacility for celestial study
- trackingMonitoring location over time
survey · monitoring · infrared · spectroscopy · photometry · observation · catalog · NEO · warning
- outer spacesun, moon, planet, star system, solar system
- space objectsgalaxy, star cluster, nebula, planet, quasar
- space mattermoon, asteroid, planet, comet, star
- space rocksasteroid, asteroids, meteorites, shooting stars, shooting star
- meteorsfireball, fireballs, shooting star, shooting stars, bolide
- solar systemsun, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn