Aliases

Disambiguation

Meteor refers specifically to the atmospheric phenomenon (luminous streak). Distinct from meteoroid (space object before atmospheric entry) and meteorite (surviving fragment that reaches ground). In physics: location-dependent terminology for the same space rock.

Stats

Concept

A meteor is the luminous phenomenon created when a meteoroid enters Earth's atmosphere at high speed and burns up through atmospheric friction, occurring at altitudes of 75–120 km.

Um meteoro é o fenômeno luminoso criado quando um meteoroide entra na atmosfera terrestre em alta velocidade e se queima pela fricção atmosférica, ocorrendo em altitudes de 75–120 km.

Enrichment

• Meteor - Wikipedia
  Wikipedia▎ high· 2026-05-14
  • Definition: glowing streak of small body (meteoroid) going through Earth's atmosphere
  • Altitude range: 75–120 km visible range, 50–95 km disintegration
  • Fireballs: magnitude −4 or brighter (brighter than any planet)
  • Bolides: magnitude −14 or brighter (exceptionally bright explosions)
  • Most meteoroids: grain-of-sand size, typically 1 mm or smaller
• Meteors and Meteorites - NASA Science
  NASA▎ high· 2026-05-14
  • Definition: meteoroid entering atmosphere at high speed and burning up
  • Frequency: ~48.5 tons of meteoritic material falls daily
  • Terminology location-based: meteoroid (space), meteor (atmosphere), meteorite (ground)
  • Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through comet debris trails
• Common UAP Misidentifications - UAP Sightings Reporting System
  UAP Sightings Reporting System▎ medium· 2026-05-14
  • Meteors are among the most commonly mistaken astronomical objects for UAP
  • Confusion heightened by partially cloudy skies creating apparent movement illusions
  • Visual impressions unreliable due to optical illusions and environmental conditions