METEORIC STONE Meaning and
Definition
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A meteoric stone, also known as a meteorite, is a solid fragment of a celestial body that has survived its passage through the Earth's atmosphere to reach the Earth's surface. Meteoric stones are composed of various minerals and can range in size from small pebbles to large boulders. They are typically dark in color due to the intense heat generated during their entry into the Earth's atmosphere.
Meteoric stones originate from asteroids, which are rocky bodies orbiting the sun between the planets Mars and Jupiter. Occasionally, they can also come from other celestial bodies such as the Moon or Mars. These celestial bodies are ancient remnants of the early solar system, dating back billions of years. When an asteroid collides with another object or is disrupted by a gravitational pull, fragments are ejected into space, and some eventually find their way to Earth.
The journey of a meteoric stone through the Earth's atmosphere is accompanied by a bright streak of light known as a meteor or shooting star. As they travel at high velocities, the immense friction with the atmosphere causes the exterior of the meteoric stone to heat up and often melt, creating a glowing trail visible to observers on the ground.
Once a meteoric stone lands on Earth, it is scientifically valuable, as it can provide insights into the composition and history of the early solar system. It may contain unique minerals or organic compounds not found naturally on Earth, making it of great interest to researchers and collectors alike.
Common Misspellings for METEORIC STONE
- neteoric stone
- keteoric stone
- jeteoric stone
- mwteoric stone
- msteoric stone
- mdteoric stone
- mrteoric stone
- m4teoric stone
- m3teoric stone
- mereoric stone
- mefeoric stone
- megeoric stone
- meyeoric stone
- me6eoric stone
- me5eoric stone
- metworic stone
- metsoric stone
- metdoric stone
- metroric stone
- met4oric stone
Etymology of METEORIC STONE
The word "meteoric" comes from the Latin word "meteōricus", which is derived from the Greek word "meteorikos". In ancient Greek, "meteorikos" referred to anything related to meteors, which were believed to be celestial phenomena. Later, this term was specifically used to describe objects that fell from the sky, including meteorites.
The word "stone" is from Old English "stān", which has Germanic origins. It is a general term for any hard, solid material commonly found in the Earth's crust. When combined as "meteoric stone", it refers to a specific type of stone or rock that originates from outer space and lands on the Earth's surface.
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