METEOR VS. ASTEROID VS. METEORITE – What’s the Difference?
The term “meteor” refers to the fiery aerial display created by a falling meteoroid or asteroid. Meteors are called fireballs if they shine brighter than the planets in the night sky (magnitude -4), and bolides if the blast is even brighter (around magnitude -14).
So what’s the difference between a Meteor and an Asteroid?
When the rock is no wider than a meter (3.3 feet), it’s known as a meteoroid
1- to 10-meter range, the term “asteroid” applies
When pieces of the meteoroid (or asteroid) survive their fiery fall through the atmosphere and hit the surface, those pieces are called meteorites