Technically, what is/are the difference(s) between an asteroid and a meteor?

Question

I though it was that an asteroid is still in space, and a meteor is an asteroid that has entered our atmosphere.

I looked at the definitions on google for each of the words, but I would like to hear from someone who has actually studied astronomy. Thanks for your answers.

Answer 1

* Asteroid: A relatively small, inactive body, composed of rock, carbon or metal, which is orbiting the Sun.

Comet: A relatively small, sometimes active object, which is composed of dirt and ices. Comets are characterised by dust and gas tails when in proximity to the Sun. Far from the Sun it is difficult to distinguish an asteroid from a comet.

Meteoroid: A small particle from an asteroid or comet orbiting he Sun.

** Meteor: A meteoroid that is observed as it burns up in the Earth's atmosphere - a shooting star.

Meteorite: A meteoroid that survives its passage through the Earth's atmosphere and impacts the Earth's surface.

Answer 2

To the excellent answer that you have already received I will add what I learned from my niece's husband, a TV weather man:

He is a meteorologist, because he studies things that fall from the sky. So, if you go back to the original Greek, even rain, snow, hail, and the like are meteors. But don't tell that to an astronomer.

Answer 3

BASICALLY IT'S THE SIZE.