GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

Detailed explanation-1: -Meteoroids are objects in space that range in size from dust grains to small asteroids. Think of them as “space rocks.” When meteoroids enter Earth’s atmosphere (or that of another planet, like Mars) at high speed and burn up, the fireballs or “shooting stars” are called meteors.

Detailed explanation-2: -The smallest meteorites, called micrometeorites, range in size from a few hundred micrometres (m) to as small as about 10 m and come from the population of tiny particles that fill interplanetary space (see interplanetary dust particle).

Detailed explanation-3: -During their journey through the atmosphere, meteors rub against air particles, creating friction and heat. The heat then vaporizes most meteors, resulting in bright streaks of light across the sky, or shooting stars.

Detailed explanation-4: -Have you ever seen a meteor shower, where meteors burn up and streak across the sky? Some people call them shooting stars. Those meteors are burning up in the mesosphere. The meteors make it through the exosphere and thermosphere without much trouble because those layers don’t have much air.