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What are Meteors?

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What's the difference between a meteor, meteorite, and meteoroid ... and exactly how scared should we be? Crash Course explains exactly what happens when earth encounters debris as it plows its course around the sun. 

When comets orbit the sun, the ice on them turns to gas, dislodging dust and gravel that fall away from the comet but stay in orbit, creating a puffy ribbon of debris orbiting the sun. What is the phenomenon called when earth's orbit crosses this ribbon?

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