micrometeorites
Tiny cosmic particles
Micrometeorites are tiny particles of extraterrestrial material that survive passage through Earth's atmosphere.
Unlike larger meteors that burn up or explode, these specks—typically smaller than a millimeter—drift down slowly enough to land intact.
They accumulate everywhere but are easiest to find in pristine environments like Antarctic ice or deep-sea sediments.
Urban collectors filter rooftop gutters to find them among terrestrial dust.
Microscopic particles pervading space
- stardustInterstellar particulate matter
- shooting starsVisible meteors entering atmosphere
- meteoroidsSmall interplanetary rocky bodies
- asteroidsSmall solar orbiters
comets · solar system · extraterrestrial · interstellar · celestial · ecliptic · orbits · nebulae
Less than one millimeter
- grainsSmall hard seeds
- specksMinute spots or particles
- particlesMinute pieces of matter
- minusculeExtremely small in size
powder · fragments · nanoscale · invisible · fine dust · granules
Imaging via focused particle beams
- spectroscopyStudy of light-matter interaction
- mass spectrometryMeasures ionic weight ratios
- presolar grainsParticles predating our star
- solar windContinuous stellar particle emission
planetary formation · early solar system · ablation · Hayabusa
Meteorite containing round grains
- impact craterMeteorite collision depression
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- mineralogyScience of inorganic solids
geochronology · petrology · deposition · erosion · paleoclimate · ocean floor · fossilization · iron-nickel
Underwater continental surface
- electron microscopyImaging via focused particle beams
- magnetic separationIsolating substances via magnetism
- rainwater collectionCapturing precipitation for use
- filtrationSeparating solids from liquids
cosmic dust
Microscopic particles pervading space
- stardustInterstellar particulate matter
- shooting starsVisible meteors entering atmosphere
- meteoroidsSmall interplanetary rocky bodies
asteroids · comets · solar system · extraterrestrial · interstellar · celestial · ecliptic · orbits · nebulae · galaxies
submillimeter
Less than one millimeter
minuscule · powder · fragments · nanoscale · invisible · fine dust · granules
electron microscopy
Imaging via focused particle beams
- spectroscopyStudy of light-matter interaction
- mass spectrometryMeasures ionic weight ratios
- presolar grainsParticles predating our star
solar wind · planetary formation · early solar system · ablation · Hayabusa
chondrite
Meteorite containing round grains
- impact craterMeteorite collision depression
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
mineralogy · geochronology · petrology · deposition · erosion · paleoclimate · ocean floor · fossilization · iron-nickel · olivine
ocean floor
Underwater continental surface
- electron microscopyImaging via focused particle beams
- magnetic separationIsolating substances via magnetism
- rainwater collectionCapturing precipitation for use
- meteor impactscraters, impact crater, impact craters, crater, bolides
- space materialsmeteorites, moon rocks, lunar samples, stardust, space rocks
- spaceflight hazardsmicrogravity, weightlessness, zero gravity, space debris, cosmic rays
- astrogeologyplanetary cores, meteorites, impact craters, lunar craters, moon rocks
- meteoriteschondrites, chondrite, irons, siderite
- space debrisspace junk, debris field, debris cloud, rocket stages, paint flakes
micrometeoritesasteroid
Sun-orbiting rocky mass
planetesimal · bolide · impactor · comet · dwarf planet