Approximately 1500 large space objects have the capability to cross the Earth’s orbit at some point in the future.

Some scientists believe that , unless preventative measures are undertaken, some of these space objects will collide with Earth. But contrary to popular beliefs, these objects aren’t meteors!

So for once and for all, here’s the difference - explained in an easy to understand language - between asteroids, meteoroids, meteors and meteorites…

• Asteroid:
  solid space object more than 50 meters (164 feet) in diameter (*)
  
  
• Meteoroid:
  solid space object less than 50 meters in diameter (*)
  
  
• Meteor:
  flash of light one sees when these objects start to glow when they enter the Earth’s atmosphere
  
  
• Meteorite:
  leftovers - if any - that survived both the interaction with the Earth’s atmosphere and the impact upon the Earth’s crust
  
  

(*) Source : NEO - Classification of Near-Earth Objects by kind and size



Beautiful meteor - Guadalajara, Mexico (Sep 22, 2006)