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Meteoroid and an Asteroid
What is the difference between a meteoroid and an asteroid?
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The terms “meteoroid” and “asteroid” are often used when discussing celestial bodies in space, but they refer to different things based on their size, location, and composition:
Meteoroid:
A meteoroid is a small rocky or metallic body in outer space.
These objects are significantly smaller than asteroids, ranging from the size of a grain of sand to around 1 meter in diameter.
Meteoroids are often remnants of comets or asteroids.
When a meteoroid enters the Earth’s atmosphere and burns up, producing a streak of light, it is called a meteor or “shooting star.”
Asteroid:
An asteroid is a larger rocky or metallic body that orbits the Sun.
Asteroids are larger than meteoroids, typically measuring meters to hundreds of kilometers in diameter.
Most asteroids are found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, but they can also be present elsewhere in the solar system.
Some asteroids have even been classified as dwarf planets due to their size and characteristics.
In summary, the key differences lie in their size and location. Meteoroids are smaller and typically burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere, creating meteors, while asteroids are larger bodies that orbit the Sun, often found in the asteroid belt.
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