Description: 陨石是指尺寸在30微米到1米之间，穿过地球或其他天体的大气层后坠落到该天体表面的固态宇宙天体。一个天体只有在穿过地球或其他天体的大气层后才被称为陨石。处在行星际空间或穿过大气层时，它被称为流星体。流星体在大气层中产生的激波会发光，此时我们就观测到一颗流星。

陨石根据成分的不同，可分为石陨石、石铁陨石和铁陨石。在与观测到的流星相对应的陨石中，石陨石是最常见的类型。不过，石陨石通常看起来像地球上的普通岩石，所以容易被忽视。而在地面上发现的陨石中，铁陨石是最常见的类型。大多数陨石都是在南极洲或沙漠中发现的，因为那里是最容易发现陨石的地方。

大多数被发现的陨石质量从几克到几千克不等。已知最大的陨石是坠落在纳米比亚的霍巴陨石，重达60多吨。有些陨石大到足以产生一个陨击坑。陨石以其坠落的地点来命名。

Related Terms:

• 铁陨石
• 流星体
• 流星

Term and definition status: The original definition of this term in English have been approved by a research astronomer and a teacher
The translation of this term and its definition is still awaiting approval

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