How Are Meteorites Formed?
Dear Digger Doug,
How are meteorites formed?
—Suzie, age 9, Beaufort, SC
Dear Suzie,
Did you know that our readers are so smart, that sometimes they ask questions that nobody knows the exact answer to? That’s what you have done. We don’t know exactly how meteorites are formed. But I think I can help you and our other readers understand them better. In space, there are lots of rocks and metals floating around that are not parts of planets or stars. Sometimes this space junk shoots through space and heats up, blazing in what we call a meteor. Now, here is the interesting part. The rocks, metals, and actual stuff are not called a meteor. They are called a meteoroid. It is the blaze, or the flash of light, that is called a meteor, or we might call it a shooting star. Sometimes, however, pieces of rock or metal shoot toward the Earth. Most of these pieces are burned up in Earth’s atmosphere. If any parts make it all the way through the atmosphere and actually hit the ground, then they are called meteorites. Some people have made up theories that meteorites brought tiny bacteria from outer space to Earth, and all life evolved from that bacteria. But this cannot be true. First, it would violate the Law of Biogenesis that says life in the material Universe comes from previously existing life of its own kind. Second, it goes against what the Bible says, that God created planet Earth and formed the different living plants and animals that are here. While we don’t know exactly how meteorites formed, we do know God made everything in the Universe during the six days of Creation. Thanks for the great question.
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