Bright fireball amazes Middle Tennessee: Understanding meteors, meteorites, and meteoroids

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — A dazzling fireball lit up the night sky over Middle Tennessee early Tuesday morning.

Around 2:11 a.m., many viewers captured what appeared to be a bright meteor streaking across the sky before burning up in the atmosphere.

So, what’s the difference between a meteor, a meteorite, and a meteoroid? It all comes down to location.

A meteoroid is in space, ranging from tiny dust particles to small asteroids…

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