Meteors ignite and disintegrate in the mesosphere, a layer of Earth’s upper atmosphere stretching from 31 to 53 miles high. The gases are dense enough to catch meteors and cause them to burn up as they streak through.
What is a meteor?
Meteors are pieces of an asteroid that enter Earth’s atmosphere. Bits that don’t enter the atmosphere are called meteoroids. If these pieces land on Earth’s surface, they’re known as meteorites.
When meteors burn up, they can leave a bright streak of light visible to people on the ground or in airplanes. We often call this a “shooting star.”
What is an asteroid?
Asteroids are rocky bodies orbiting the Sun, typically smaller than planets but larger than meteoroids. They are mostly found in the asteroid belt, situated between the inner and outer planets.
What are the layers of the Atmosphere?
Earth’s atmosphere has five layers:
The troposphere
The troposphere, the lowest part of the atmosphere, is where almost all weather occurs. It starts at the earth’s surface and extends up to 12 miles.
The stratosphere
The stratosphere, the second-highest layer of Earth’s atmosphere, stretches from 4 to 31 miles above the planet. It includes the ozone layer, which shields life from harmful ultraviolet radiation.
The mesosphere
The mesosphere, Earth’s third-highest atmospheric layer, spans from 31 to 53 miles above the planet and holds minimal water vapor and other gases.
The thermosphere
The thermosphere, the fourth atmospheric layer, stretches from 53 to 375 miles above Earth. Most space vehicles orbit here, and it’s where you can witness the stunning Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis. This layer is crucial for both space exploration and observing natural light shows.
The exosphere.
The exosphere is Earth’s outermost atmospheric layer, extending from the thermosphere to 6,200 miles high. It has sparse gases with very low densities and is largely empty space.