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Shooting Stars: 10 Fascinating Facts about Meteors

Human beings have been fascinated by the beauty of the night sky with the dazzling small celestial bodies for as long as they have existed. Shooting stars emerging from unknown land has always been a scene that is beautiful to watch on a night. These beautiful objects, also known as meteors have an amazing display as they swing from one point to another in the sky leaving behind thin and bright lights. The science behind these celestial bodies has some intriguing facts that would surprise you. Digging into the world of meteors helps us reveal and understand the hidden truths which has enabled people to travel to space to study these objects. Studying meteors helps in understanding some facts such as their many origins and nomenclature. Digging into knowledge about meteors would help in understanding the speed they move through the atmosphere, and how they manage to cover large distances to reach the surface of the earth. This article also explains the physical makeup of the meteors and their rare species that go through all the layers of the atmosphere and survive to reach the Earth.

Below are some of the ten fascinating facts about meteors that you need to know:

1. Meteors Change their Shape and Sizes as they Travel through the Atmosphere

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The original object is called a meteoroid which descends from space toward the Earth. When the meteoroid travels fast and enters the earth’s atmosphere, the friction against the wind causes it to begin burning. It becomes a meteor at the point of burning as it travels further toward the surface of the earth. A meteor that survives to the earth’s surface becomes a meteorite, which looks like an ordinary rock.

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2. The Meteors Originate from the Debris of Rocks and Metals in the Solar System

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Although meteors are often referred to as shooting stars, they are not stars. Meteors originate from the debris of rocks or metals in the solar system that enters the earth’s atmosphere. Moving at a fast speed and rubbing against the wind makes the objects begin burning, thus becoming meteors.

3. One of the Largest Meteorites  found on the Surface of the Earth is the Hoba Meteor

The meteor was given the name Hoba which was derived from the khoekhoegowab word gift. The object measures nine feet in length and width, weighing up to sixty tons. Scientists claim that Hoba is the largest meteorite because it remained intact after multiple collisions before settling in one place. There are no plans to move it to a different location because it is heavy.

4. Most Meteors are Concentrated between Planets Jupiter and Mars

Since meteors have an origin, scientists found out that most of them are found in an orbit between Jupiter and Mars in the solar system. The meteor belt is arguably almost three times as far from the Earth as the Earth is far from the Sun. The number of asteroids on this orbit is more than eight hundred thousand and could increase in number due to disintegration.

5. Barringer is one of the most Famous Meteors in the World

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When Barringer hit the earth’s surface in Winslow, it left behind the deepest crater in the history of meteorites. The crater is four thousand feet in diameter and almost six hundred deep. Statistics show that this is by far the deepest crater in history caused by a meteorite.

6. There are more than Forty Craters Created By Meteorites in the World

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As scientists continue with their pursuit to discover more meteorites, there are already more than forty that have caused large craters. However, there are also more than a hundred craters that have been created by meteorites around the world. The recent meteorite crater was created in the late nineteenth century in Siberia. As time goes on, there are chances for more meteors falling on the earth’s surface.

Also see: Top 10 Amazing Facts About Meteor Crater

7. Meteors Have Different Shapes and Sizes 

Although there are only hundreds of meteorites that have been discovered on the earth’s surface, there are thousands more that have never been recovered and might never be seen. This is because most of these celestial bodies fall on the earth’s surface when they are too small for people to notice them falling. Others fall in water bodies such as oceans and sink to the bottom making it impossible for anyone to come across them.

8. As Meteoroids Begin Burning, they become Meteors with Different Lengths of Tails

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Meteoroids begin burning after entering the earth’s atmosphere where they rub against the wind, causing friction that leads to burning. As the object begins to burn, it moves at a faster speed intensifying the heat and thus becoming brighter. The tail can grow up to more than a hundred million kilometers in length and always faces away from the sun.

9. Meteors are Linked to the Extinction of Dinosaurs and another Indigenous Living Organism

Scientific research has shown that the crash of some major meteors leads to the extinction of dinosaurs. The Chicxulub crater is used as an example where huge meteors fell, causing huge blasts that killed several plants and animals including dinosaurs. The event happened during the prehistoric times.

10. The Name Meteor is Derived from the Greek Name ‘Meteron’ 

Just as the Greeks would refer to it, a meteor is a phenomenon in the sky comprising rocks, metals, and bigger than dust that emits light due to friction. They are smaller than asteroids.

The fascinating beauty and heavenly dazzling of the meteors in the sky continue to amaze people and capture the attention of the world.  These amazing celestial objects, which were created from the remains of asteroids have several features that we have never known. Scientists continue to uncover the truths about the meteors and pass the knowledge to the rest of the world. Let us enjoy the fleeting beauty of these shooting stars and the deep lessons they give human beings, reminding us of the innumerable treasures that lie beyond our planet’s atmosphere.