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Meteorites give us clues to the solar system's composition.

Meteoroids, Meteors, Meteorites can not support life themselves, but may have brought amino acids to earth which are building blocks for life.

Meteoroid

A rock in space prone to become a meteor.  Most are fragments from comets or asteroids. 

Meteor

When a meteoroid or other space debris enters a planet's atmosphere and heats up, leaving behind a visible trail, it is known as a meteor. A meteor is also known as a "shooting star" or "falling star".

Meteorite

If a meteor does not fully burn up in the atmosphere and makes its way to the Earth's surface, it is becomes a meteorite.

Meteoroid

In our solar system, a meteoroid

 

1) orbits the sun

 

2) rotates on an axis (tumbles like an asteroid)

 

3)  is irregularly shaped,

 

4) is composed of rock and metals, ice and gases

 

5) and has NOT "cleared the neighborhood" around its orbit of other objects.

 

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