![]() ![]() Those that manage to strike the surface of a planet are called meteorites. Not all meteors survive their journey through the atmosphere. Meteors streaking through the Earth's atmosphere are often referred to as “shooting stars,” though, of course, they’re not stars. At this point, the proper term for the object is meteor. Once a meteoroid enters a planet's atmosphere, its surface begins to burn up and leaves a trail visible across the sky. Photo courtesy of and Heritage Auctions. This meteorite might have originated from a meteoroid created by an impact on Mercury. Some meteoroids formed when impacts on Mars or the Moon ejected material into space. Some meteoroids form when comets or asteroids split apart, but others developed along with the formation of star systems like our own solar system. “Small” is a relative term, however, as some meteoroids can reach the size of large boulders. ![]() While small chunks of space debris move through outer space, they’re called meteoroids. Although they may all refer to the same object, they specify where the object is in its journey. These terms can denote any kind of extraterrestrial debris, but scientists further classify them according to their structure and composition. You should differentiate between these three terms: meteoroid, meteor, and meteorite. This sterling silver pendant holds a 12 mm sphere of material from the famous Muonionalusta meteorite find (Sweden, 1906), thinly plated in rose gold but with the Widmanstätten patterns still visible. Although you don’t need a degree in astronomy to appreciate these pieces, learning more about meteorite types and terminology can help you immensely when you’re shopping for meteorite jewelry or fragments for your own custom jewelry project. ![]() Jewelers can incorporate these unique and unusual bits of extraterrestrial debris into beautiful designs. Meteorites have fascinated people from prehistoric times to the present. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |