noun
- A very small meteorite or particle of extraterrestrial material, typically microscopic in size, that enters Earth's atmosphere.
Usage: astronomy; geology
Examples
- Scientists collected micrometeorites from Antarctic ice to study the composition of space dust.
- The spacecraft's surface was pitted by impacts from micrometeorites during its mission.
- Micrometeorites constantly rain down on Earth, adding tons of extraterrestrial material to our planet each year.
- Researchers use electron microscopes to examine the structure of individual micrometeorites.
- The accumulation of micrometeorites on the Moon's surface has been studied by lunar missions.
- Micrometeorites are too small to create visible meteor streaks in the atmosphere.