WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — It wasn't a bird, it wasn't a plane it was a meteor lighting up the D.C. sky Tuesday night.
Cameras flashed and Twitter blew up with photos and posts about a meteor racing across the metro sky. It was by all accounts, out of this world.
As cool as they are to watch, meteors are even more fun to learn about. Here are five fast facts about meteors.
Speed
- According to American Meteor Society, meteors race through the atmosphere at speeds of 25,000 mph to 160,000 mph! That's about 50 times faster than than a commercial airplane!
Location, Location, Location
- In space, a meteoroid is a small asteroid (small, rocky, iron or icy debris in space). Also referred to as "space rocks".
- NASA notes that when meteoroids enter the atmosphere, they are called meteors or "shooting stars".
- If a meteor makes it to the ground, it's called a meteorite.
Why The Big Flash When They Enter Earth's Atmosphere?
- Meteors travel very fast and as they are going through earth's atmosphere they disintegrate as pressure exceeds the strength of the object. This results in a bright flare.
It Adds Up Everyday
- NASA estimates that about 48.5 tons of meteoritic material falls on Earth everyday!
There's More Where That Came From
- NASA estimates that there are currently 794,562 asteroids
The next major meteor shower,Lyrids, is expected April 21-22, 2019.