Meteorites

Meteorites are fragments of space rocks that survive their passage through Earth's atmosphere and land on the surface. They originate from asteroids or, less commonly, from comets or planetary bodies. When meteoroids (small space objects) enter Earth's atmosphere at high speeds, they heat up and glow, creating a meteor or "shooting star." If enough material survives the intense heat and impact, it becomes a meteorite. These objects provide valuable scientific information about the early solar system, planetary formation, and cosmic processes, making them important to researchers and collectors alike.