What term is used only after an object survives atmospheric passage and lands on the Earth’s surface?
Answer
Meteorite
The object only earns the designation of meteorite once it has successfully traversed the fiery passage through the atmosphere and physically impacted the surface of the Earth. This remnant piece represents extraterrestrial material retrieved directly on the planet. This final stage defines its location relative to the planet; before this impact, it was either a meteoroid (in space) or a meteor (burning up in the atmosphere). The surviving physical sample on the ground is the key distinction for this classification.
Related Questions
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