Meteorite is a solid, natural object that originates from outer space, typically as a fragment from an asteroid, comet, or other celestial bodies, and survives its passage through a planet's or moon's atmosphere to reach the surface. It begins as a meteoroid in space, which is a small rocky or metallic body. Upon entering an atmosphere at high speed, friction causes it to heat up and produce a visible streak of light known as a meteor. If the object does not completely vaporize or burn up during this fiery descent and instead lands on the surface, it is classified as a meteorite. They are composed of materials such as stone, iron, or a combination, and often contain minerals that differ from those commonly found in terrestrial rocks, preserving clues about the early solar system.
