Meteorite vs. Aerolite — What's the Difference?

A meteorite is a solid piece of debris from an object, such as a comet, asteroid, or meteoroid, that originates in outer space and survives its passage through the atmosphere to reach the surface of a planet or moon. When the original object enters the atmosphere, various factors such as friction, pressure, and chemical interactions with the atmospheric gases cause it to heat up and radiate energy.

A meteorite composed chiefly of silicates.

A stony or metallic mass of matter that has fallen to the earth's surface from outer space.

A meteorite consisting of silicate minerals.

A metallic or stony object or body that is the remains of a meteoroid.

A stone, or metallic mass, which has fallen to the earth from distant space; a meteorite; a meteoric stone.

A mass of stone or iron which has fallen to the earth from space; an aërolite.

A stony meteorite consisting of silicate minerals

Stony or metallic object that is the remains of a meteoroid that has reached the earth's surface