Never Miss a word!
Kids need Science
Kids Need Science is devoted to demystifying and explaining science, technology, engineering and math words, names, and concepts. Check back often for a science, technology, engineering or math word defined and explained every day.
  • BROWSE WORDS BY TOPIC
Map MAP OF VISITORS WORLDWIDE
Tip Jar. This blog is completely self-funded and is 100% original content. Consider a small donation to help buy dictionaries and images to use on this site. Thanks!

If you haven’t seen this video of a meteor over Russia yet, you have to check it out.  In order to help you speak knownledgeably about it, today we have a three words that are often confused or used interchangeably:  meteor, meteoroid and meteorite. The word meteor comes directly from the Ancient Greek word ta meteora which meant a celestial phenomenon. Today a meteor is the visible manifestation of that celestial phenomenon as it enters the earth’s atmosphere. Meteor came into use in Early Modern English in the 15th century. Meteorite was coined in 1824 by adding -ite from the French suffix based on the Latin suffix -ita meaning connected to or belonging to to denote the remains of meteors recovered on the ground. The word meteoroid was coined in 1865 by adding the -oid suffix from the Ancient Greek word eidos meaning shape orform to denote a celestial body smaller than an asteroid yet still visible from Earth. Get ready for the asteroid that will shortly pass within 17,100 miles of earth, well below the orbits of many satellites.  Let’s hope it doesn’t become a meteor or worse, meteorite!  Russian speakers take note:  minor swearing after the sonic boom.

February 15, 2013
10:16 AM
535 notes
#meteor
#russia
#greek
#astronomy
  1. theepitomeofnothing reblogged this from scinerds
  2. stresseditguy reblogged this from aperture-inc
  3. geekypudding reblogged this from aperture-inc
  4. aperture-inc reblogged this from abcstarstuff
  5. emmilyray reblogged this from youridiosyncrasies
  6. youridiosyncrasies reblogged this from greenshroom
  7. criticaldamag3 reblogged this from greenshroom
  8. greenshroom reblogged this from ikenbot
  9. troy3000 reblogged this from scinerds
  10. siopaolocan reblogged this from kidsneedscience
  11. somebody-like-you2011 reblogged this from scinerds
  12. paris-collage reblogged this from scinerds
  13. consulting-angel-doctor reblogged this from yugiohrufioh
  14. leadmetoinsanity reblogged this from kidsneedscience
  15. ali-allen91 reblogged this from we-are-star-stuff
  16. oxioxigen reblogged this from we-are-star-stuff
  17. millsievradio reblogged this from just-breezy
  18. gemini83 reblogged this from sunloop