What’s that flash of light streaking across the sky? We call the objects that creates this brilliant effect by different names, depending on where it is.
那道划过天空的闪光是什么？我们根据物体所在的位置，用不同的名称称呼产生这种辉煌效果的物体。
Meteoroids are what we call “space rocks” that range in size from dust grains to small asteroids. This term only applies when they’re in space.
流星体就是我们所说的“太空岩石”，大小从尘埃颗粒到小行星不等。这个术语只适用于他们在太空中的时候。
流星体，图源网络
Most are pieces of other, larger bodies that have been broken or blasted off. Some come from comets, others from asteroids, and some even come from the Moon and other planets. Some meteoroids are rocky, while others are metallic, or combinations of rock and metal.
大部分是其他较大物体的碎片，它们已经破碎或被炸掉了。有些来自彗星，有些来自小行星，有些甚至来自月球和其他行星。一些流星体是岩石的，而其他流星体则是金属的，或者是岩石和金属的组合。
When meteoroids enter Earth’s atmosphere, or that of another planet, like Mars, at high speed and burn up, they’re called meteors. This is also when we refer to them as “shooting stars.” Sometimes meteors can even appear brighter than Venus -- that’s when we call them “fireballs.” Scientists estimate that about 48.5 tons (44,000 kilograms) of meteoritic material falls on Earth each day.
当流星体高速进入地球大气层或火星等其他行星的大气层并燃烧时，它们被称为流星。这也就是我们称之为“射击的星星”的时候。有时流星甚至比金星还亮，我们称其为“火球”。科学家估计，每天约有44000公斤的陨石物质落在地球上。
当一个流星体在穿越大气层的旅程中幸存下来并撞击地面时，它被称为陨石。图源网络。
When a meteoroid survives its trip through the atmosphere and hits the ground, it’s called a meteorite.
当一个流星体在穿越大气层的旅程中幸存下来并撞击地面时，它被称为陨石。
利比亚HaH 346普通球粒陨石，新鲜的陨石有一层薄薄的熔壳。
英文来源：NASA
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