Definition
micrometeoroid
noun
- a very small meteoroid, typically ranging from a fraction of a millimeter to a few millimeters in diameter, that travels through space.
Usage: astronomy; space science
Examples
- Micrometeoroids constantly bombard spacecraft orbiting Earth.
- The spacecraft's hull was damaged by impacts from micrometeoroids during its mission.
- Scientists study micrometeoroids to understand the composition of interplanetary dust.
- Micrometeoroids are too small to be detected by most ground-based telescopes.
- The International Space Station has shielding to protect against micrometeoroid impacts.
- Micrometeoroids originate from comets, asteroids, and collisions in space.