The difference between asteroids and meteorites
Nancy Atkinson
In simplest terms here are the definitions: Asteroid: a large rocky body in space, in orbit around the Sun. Meteorite: If a small asteroid or large meteoroid survives its fiery passage through the Earth’s atmosphere and lands on Earth’s surface, it is then called a meteorite. One of the more famous impact craters on Earth is Meteor Crater in Arizona in the US, which was made by an impact about 50,000 years ago. Credit: NASA Meteorite If any part of a meteoroid survives the fall through the atmosphere and lands on Earth, it is called a meteorite. Asteroids are always found in space.