>>"My" definition of "meteoroid" is just the standard
textbook definition. Before it hits the Earth, it's
a "meteoroid." While in fiery flight through the
atmosphere, it's a "meteor." If a piece lands on the
Earth (and somebody finds it), it's a "meteorite."<<
I understood that a meteoroid is a small bodied natural object, in a
separate solar orbit from that of earth's. When it enters the earths
atmosphere
and in the incandescent phase, the visible phenomena is a meteor.
Afterwards, during the dark phase, its no longer in a separate solar orbit
from that
of the earth's. It has yet to hit the ground to become a meteorite. What
is this object called during the dark phase? I personally call it a
meteorite since its under the control of the earth at that point and not
independent of the earth. Also there has been detected by various space probes
out
around Jupiter, "meteoroids" that are too fast to be in solar orbit and thus
of interstellar origins. Are these still called meteoroids?
GeoZay
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