Collection: Meteorites & Tektites

A meteor is produced when a bit of rock or dust from outer space enters the earth's atmosphere at a high speed.  The friction between this material and the molecules in the atmosphere causes intense heat to build up and makes the material glow -- producing the streak of light people call a "shooting star."

Tektites are formed when a comet or meteorite collides with the earth - or moon - with such force that melted rock is "splattered" into the upper atmosphere. Here the droplets cool and harden into the shiny glassy shapes we call tektites.