Blast into 2026: Conquer the Astronomy Challenge – Your Cosmic Adventure Awaits!

When a meteoroid enters the Earth’s atmosphere, it experiences intense friction with the air, which causes it to heat up and glow. This glowing phenomenon is what we refer to as a meteor. As the meteoroid travels through the atmosphere at high speed, it may create a streak of light in the sky, commonly known as a "shooting star." The term "meteor" specifically describes this luminous event, distinguishing it from the solid body in space (the meteoroid) and the remnants that may reach the Earth's surface, which are then classified as meteorites. Understanding this process highlights the distinction between the various stages and terminologies associated with these celestial objects.