Page 166 - DK Children's Encyclopedia

Meteorites SEE ALSO

▸ ▸ Asteroids p.30
▸ ▸ Atmosphere p.33
Meteorites are pieces of space rock (asteroids and comets) ▸ ▸ Comets p.68
that reach the surface of the Earth. They come in many ▸ ▸ Metals p.162
different sizes, from tiny pebbles to rocks the size of a ▸ ▸ Rocks and

house. Only big meteorites can create craters when minerals p.214
they hit the ground. ▸ ▸ Solar system
p.233

Space rocks Stony-iron Meteroids are small
pieces of asteroids
Stony-iron
Meteorites are made of meteorites are a and comets. Space
materials that are also mixture of metal Asteroid The atmosphere
found on Earth. There and rock. They is a layer of gases
are very rare.
are three main types. Meteoroid around the Earth.
Atmosphere

Changing names Meteor
The name of a space rock
Stony Iron changes as it approaches
Most meteorites Iron meteorites are made Earth. In space, it is a Meteorite
that are found are of iron and nickel metals. meteoroid; in the atmosphere,
stony. They come They come from the cores
from the crusts of of asteroids. it is a meteor; and on the Earth
asteroids. ground, it is a meteorite.

Crash site
If a meteorite makes it through Earth’s
atmosphere, it crashes into the surface.
The hole it leaves is called an impact
crater. This huge crater is found in
Winslow, Arizona.

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