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A '''meteor''' is a ''[[meteoroid]]'' (a small rocky object in space) that has entered the Earth's atmosphere.  Friction causes it to burn in the atmosphere, causing the meteor to glow brightly.  For this reason, a meteor is often referred to as a "shooting star" or "falling star".  Most meteors are small and burn up in less than a second, but some very large ones glow brightly for many seconds and are called "fireballs" or "bolides."  (See also [[Asteroid]]).

A '''meteor''' is a ''[[meteoroid]]'' (a small rocky object in space) that has entered the Earth's atmosphere.  Friction causes it become burning in the atmosphere, causing the meteor to glow brightly.  For this reason, a meteor is often referred to as a "shooting star" or "falling star".  Most meteors are small and burn up in less than a second, but some very large ones glow brightly for many seconds and are called "fireballs" or "bolides."  (See also [[Asteroid]]).

An exceptionally large meteor may not burn up completely in the atmosphere.  If part of a meteor hits the ground, it becomes known as a ''[[meteorite]]''.  

An exceptionally large meteor may not burn up completely in the atmosphere.  If part of a meteor hits the ground, it becomes known as a ''[[meteorite]]''.  

There are currently several hundred known [[asteroid]]s, called Apollo asteroids, that are in Earth-crossing orbits.  

There are currently several hundred known [[asteroid]]s, called Apollo asteroids, that are in Earth-crossing orbits.  

==Meteors and asteroids==

==Asteroid belts==

Meteors are smaller than asteroids, a distinction that may seem arbitrary.  

Meteors are asteroids or pieces of them, which mostly come from one of the two asteroid belts in the [[Solar System]].  

A large cluster of asteroids lies at the outskirts of our solar system and is known as the [[Kuiper Belt]].  

A large cluster of asteroids lies at the outskirts of our solar system and is known as the [[Kuiper Belt]], another one is the [[Asteroid belt]] between [[Mars]] and [[Jupiter]].  

==Culture and History==

==Culture and History==

:"I would sooner believe that two [[Yankee]] [[professor]]s [[deceit|lied]], than that stones fell from the sky."[http://www.eridu.co.uk/Author/atlantis/greek.html]

:"I would sooner believe that two [[Yankee]] [[professor]]s [[deceit|lied]], than that stones fell from the sky."[http://www.eridu.co.uk/Author/atlantis/greek.html]

[[Category:Astronomy]]

[[Category:Astronomy]]