A meteor is often created when a comet explodes. Meteorites are also formed of small particles and follow an orbit round the sun. The substances they are made of can be found of Earth; rock and nickel iron. When these meteorites enter our atmosphere they are called 'shooting stars'. The friction caused by their speedy passage through the atmosphere heats them so much that they burn.
When a meteor shower reaches our planet there is a wonderful cascade of stars. Meteorites are always called after the star they seem to come from. Their weight varies between a few grammes and thousands of kilos. The small meteorites, which are the most common, are burnt up at high altitude. The larger ones only burn partially so, when the debris finally falls to Earth, it leaves craters. About 30,000 years ago an enormous rock fell to Earth in this way, and landed in the state of Arizona in the United States. The crater called Devil's Canyon, is 1200 metres (4000 feet) wide and 174 metres (600 feet) deep. No trace of the meteorite, which much have exploded on impact, has been found.
When a meteor shower reaches our planet there is a wonderful cascade of stars. Meteorites are always called after the star they seem to come from. Their weight varies between a few grammes and thousands of kilos. The small meteorites, which are the most common, are burnt up at high altitude. The larger ones only burn partially so, when the debris finally falls to Earth, it leaves craters. About 30,000 years ago an enormous rock fell to Earth in this way, and landed in the state of Arizona in the United States. The crater called Devil's Canyon, is 1200 metres (4000 feet) wide and 174 metres (600 feet) deep. No trace of the meteorite, which much have exploded on impact, has been found.
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