Science Common Sense

1027 - What is the difference between a meteor, a meteoroid, and a meteorite?

Imagine something from space falling towards the Earth.

• A 'meteoroid' is a small object in space, like a rock or piece of ice, before it hits the Earth's atmosphere.
• When it enters the Earth's atmosphere and starts burning up, it's called a 'meteor', also known as a shooting star.
• If it doesn't burn up completely and lands on the Earth's surface, the leftover piece is called a 'meteorite'.