starry sky - the subject of sighs of lovers and the object of observation scientists.First admire the mysterious gloom, filled with beads luminous bodies, the latter are immersed in the complex calculations that are stored in the box after scientific knowledge.Shooting Star is even more excitement and fulfillment of promises cherished desires.However it is necessary to understand the terminology, so as not to pass for a romantic ignorant.
actually shooting star is not a star.Just imagine what would happen to our planet if it hit the sun!Star - a cluster of hot gas whose dimensions are enormous.It seems only a little due to the large distance from the Earth.Even the sun - a medium-sized star, however, and it is superior to the value of our planet millions of times.Bright flashes caused by ingestion of a celestial body in our atmosphere, have a different nature.
in outer space is a huge variety of bodies from the dust to the stars.The split-off pieces of a comet or asteroid, the size of which is often no more than a small pebble - it meteoroids.They move freely in space due to the absence of the friction force as long as the face or other object.In this case - with the planet Earth.And only then they begin to call "Meteor" and "meteorites".These two concepts are to be distinguished.Meteor - a light phenomenon that occurs as a result of the friction of the atmosphere of a meteoroid.Thus, the shooting star, which we define on a bright glowing tail - a meteor.Its size can reach a decent boulder and more.However, in most cases, no more meteor grains or pebbles.
During the day the atmosphere of the Earth invaded by thousands of meteors.Their average speed ranges of 35-70 kilometers per second.At such high speed meteor collides with the resistance of air, the temperature rapidly increases.The body literally boils, becoming red-hot gas that is dispersed in the air.And at this time Earthlings happily smiling and in a hurry to make a wish.Well, if a shooting star, a meteor that is, small in size and completely burned in the atmosphere.Heavenly rocks are very large and reach the Earth's surface.Such a body is called a meteorite.
From the last significant falls can recall the event that took place in 1920 in Africa.Then, on the territory of mainland landed meteorite Goba, the weight of which amounted to about 60 tons.Large space envoys visited us later.Suffice it to recall the incident in Chelyabinsk.Meteorite in the United States, which fell in Arizona for more than 50 thousand years ago, left behind a huge crater, with a diameter greater than 1200 meters.It is assumed that the weight of the cosmic body was 300 thousand tons, and the blast from his fall was similar to the 8000 explosion of bombs such as those dropped on Hiroshima.
course, shooting star - it's beautiful.However, in this case, beauty can be really terrible and destructive power.
