Meteorites: Science & Nature (Electronic book text)

Learn about the science of Meteorites with iMinds insightful knowledge series.A meteorite is a mass of stone or metal which has reached the earth's surface from outer space. There are various names for a meteorite depending on where it is situated. While it is travelling in space, it is referred to as a meteoroid. When it passes through the earth's atmosphere and produces a fiery streak in the sky, known as a shooting star, it is called a meteor.Because meteorites formed from the dust present during the creation of the solar system, they are on average around 4.5 billion years old. Their composition is, therefore, a record of past geologic processes which occurred while they were still part of their parent asteroid.iMinds brings targeted knowledge to your eReading device with short information segments to whet your mental appetite and broaden your mind.