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 Meteoroids and Meteors

A meteoroid approaching Earth
 Meteoroids-
 The asteroids in the space sometimes collide with each other and form much
smaller rocks called meteoroids.
 Meteor-
 When a meteoroid enters the atmosphere of the Earth it appears as a streak of
light in the sky or a meteor. The Meteors generally have high speed as they
enter the atmosphere. Thus, they get heated up due to the friction of the
atmosphere.
 Hence the meteors light up as a streak of light. However, they get evaporated in
the sky before reaching the Earth's surface and this streak of light is therefore
visible for a short time span only.
 Meteors are also called shooting stars because of their characteristic feature
however they are not stars but just a piece of rock.
 Meteorite-
o These are the leftover object that reaches the Earth.
o Meteorites help scientists in investigating the nature of the material from which
the solar system was formed
 Meteor Shower
When the earth crosses a comet's tail a large number of flying meteors can be
observed in the sky. This is called a Meteor shower. Certain meteor showers occur
periodically in the sky.

 Satellite: These are the celestial bodies revolving around other celestial body.
Example - Moon is a satellite of the Earth.

Artificial Satellites Natural Satellites

They are formed and controlled by They are formed naturally.
humans.
They are not permanent. They are permanent.

They cannot be used for the purpose
They can be used to send and of communication or sending signals
receive signals from the earth.
from the earth.

 Artificial Satellites:
These are the man-made satellites that revolve around the Earth.
Aryabhatta was the first Indian satellite. Some other Indian satellites are INSAT,
IRS, Kalpana-1, EDUSAT, etc.