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8 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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airburst
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With respect to collision with extraterrestrial objects, the explosion of a meteoroid or comet in the atmosphere, generally at an altitude of 12 to 50 km (7.5 to 30 miles).
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asteroid
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Rock or metallic particle in space with a diameter between 10 m (30 ft) and 1000 km (620 miles).
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comet
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Particle in orbit in space composed of a spongelike rocky core surrounded by ice and covered by carbon-rich dust with a tail of gas and dust that glow, as its orbit approaches the Sun; ranges from a few meters to a few hundred kilometers in diameter.
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impact crater
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A circular-to-elliptical depression produced by collision of a large object, such as an asteroid, with a planet, moon, or asteroid.
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mass extinction
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Sudden loss of large numbers of plant and animal species relative to new species being added.
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meteor
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Extraterrestial particle from dust to several centimeters in size that is burned up from frictional heat upon entry into Earth's atmosphere; light emitted from the burning meteor forms a "shooting star."
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meteorite
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Extraterrestrial particle from dust to asteroid size that hits Earth's surface.
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meteoroid
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Extraterrestrial particle in space that is smaller than 10 m and larger than dust size; may form from breakup of asteroids.
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