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Difference Between Asteroid and Meteorite DefinitionĪsteroids are large rocky objects that orbit the Sun while meteorites are solid pieces of debris from a comet, asteroid, or meteoroid that originate in the outer space and survives its passage through the atmosphere to land on the surface of a planet. Micrometeorites is the name given for meteorites smaller than 2mm. It can range from about the size of a pebble (a fraction of a gram) to 100 kilograms or more (the size of a huge, boulder). Stony metallic minerals contain both metallic and rocky materials. As their names imply, stony meteorites are rocks, mainly composed of silicate minerals while metallic meteorites mostly contain iron and nickel. Traditionally, there are three categories of meteorites: stony meteorites, metallic meteorites, and stony metallic meteorites. We also call these shooting stars or falling stars. Then it becomes a meteor and forms a fireball. When the object, i.e., asteroid, comet, etc., enters the atmosphere, factors like pressure, friction and chemical reactions with atmospheric gases cause it to heat up and radiate energy. What is a MeteoriteĪ meteorite is a solid piece of debris from a comet, asteroid, or meteoroid that originates in outer space and survives its passage through the atmosphere to reach the surface of a planet. NASA states that a small portion of asteroids may be burnt-out comets whose ice have evaporated and blown off into space. Most asteroids are composed of rocks, but if we look at their composition closely, we can note metal, mainly nickel and iron. It’s so large that it is sometimes categorized as a dwarf planet. Asteroid Ceres is the largest asteroid, with a diameter about 952 km. The size of an asteroid can range from a few meters to hundreds of kilometres. However, some asteroids have their own moons.

Sometimes, we call asteroids minor planets or planetoids, but asteroids are rocky bodies that have no atmosphere. For example, some asteroids orbit the Sun in a path that brings them close to Earth. But some asteroids are also found in other locations. Most asteroids in the solar system are in the main asteroid belt, between the two planets Mars and Jupiter. Our solar system has millions of asteroids. They are smaller than planets but larger than meteoroids, which are usually pebble-sized. – Comparison of Key Differences Key TermsĪsteroid, Meteors, Meteoroid, Meteorite, PlanetoidĪsteroids are large rocky objects that orbit the Sun. Difference Between Asteroid and Meteorite Moreover, when it enters the atmosphere and reaches the surface of a planet, we call it a meteorite. When an asteroid or a meteoroid enters the atmosphere of a planet, we call it a meteor. Asteroids are large rocky objects that orbit the Sun while meteoroids are smaller objects that orbit the Sun. Meteors, meteoroids, meteorites, and asteroids are all objects that originate in the space. Asteroids are in the space, but when it enters the atmosphere and reaches the surface of a planet, we call it a meteorite. The difference between asteroid and meteorite is all in the naming.