What designation applies to a solid piece of debris from an asteroid that successfully lands on the Earth's surface?
Answer
Meteorite
The object originating in space receives the final designation of meteorite only after it has completed its entire journey, which includes surviving the passage through the planet's atmosphere and physically impacting the ground. Before impact, while traversing space, the object is termed a meteoroid. During the fiery descent through the atmosphere, it is called a meteor, marked by a bright streak of light. The term meteorite specifically recognizes the successful delivery and physical presence of the space rock on our planet, setting it apart from the debris that burns up entirely or remains aloft.
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