Figure 15-19: R I V U X G
A Meteor A meteor is produced when a meteoroid—a piece of interplanetary rock or dust—strikes Earth’s atmosphere at high speed (typically 5 to 30 km/s). The light comes from heat as the air in front of the meteor is highly compressed. This heat also vaporizes rock and most meteoroids burn up completely at altitudes of 100 km (60 mi) or so. This long exposure (notice the star trails) shows an exceptionally bright meteor called a fireball.
A Meteor A meteor is produced when a meteoroid—a piece of interplanetary rock or dust—strikes Earth’s atmosphere at high speed (typically 5 to 30 km/s). The light comes from heat as the air in front of the meteor is highly compressed. This heat also vaporizes rock and most meteoroids burn up completely at altitudes of 100 km (60 mi) or so. This long exposure (notice the star trails) shows an exceptionally bright meteor called a fireball.
(SPL/Science Source)