meteoroid

A meteoroid is a small rocky or metallic object traveling through space, generally much smaller than a planet. When a meteoroid enters Earth's atmosphere at high speed, it heats up and produces a bright streak of light called a meteor or "shooting star." If part of the meteoroid survives the journey through the atmosphere and lands on Earth's surface, it is called a meteorite. These objects can range from tiny grains to larger chunks, and studying them helps scientists learn about the early solar system and the origins of our cosmic neighborhood.