Sky Surprise: Fireball Over Madisonville, Kentucky, Captured on Video

Madisonville Security Camera Catches Rare Sight

We rarely see cool things falling from space to Earth.  Except for the occasional comet or the nightly view of the Big Dipper, space phenomena are not usually something middle America gets to witness.  Madisonville, Kentucky, got a lucky glimpse into the relics of space on Tuesday when a meteoroid began to burn as it entered Earth's atmosphere. The result? A fascinating video, caught on a security camera, of the beautiful meteor, or shooting star. Confused yet? Let me explain.

What Exactly is the Difference Between a Meteor, Meteoroid, and Meteorite?

Essentially, all the same thing, the difference between a meteor, meteoroid, and meteorite is determined by the space object's present status.  A meteoroid is a small rock or object that travels through space. If and/or when it decides to enter Earth's atmosphere, it will burn up due to the friction and high rate of velocity.  The burning creates a spectacular beam of light in the sky.  This is called a meteor. Should a meteoroid survive the journey from space to Earth, it is then called a meteorite, leaving its everlasting impression on our planet in the form of a crater (or, as some would say, a massive hole in the ground).

Check out this video from Brandi Marsh of the Madisonville meteor:

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Shooting Stars are Actually Meteors

When you look to the night sky and make your wish upon that falling star, you're actually wishing upon a meteor.  Yes, you're wishing upon a rock or dust with a lot of force behind it.  According to Google, this is the breakdown of a shooting star (in meteor terms):

• What it is: A meteor is a meteoroid (a piece of rock or dust in space) that enters Earth's atmosphere.
• What causes the light: As it travels at high speed, friction with the air causes it to heat up and glow, creating the "shooting star" effect.
• Not a star: The name is misleading because actual stars are massive, distant suns that do not move in the way a meteor does.
• Different appearances: The color of the light can vary depending on the composition of the meteor. For example, magnesium can create a blue-green color, while iron can produce a yellow light.
• Meteor showers: At certain times of the year, Earth passes through a stream of cosmic debris left by a comet or asteroid, resulting in a meteor shower with many "shooting stars" appearing to originate from a single point in the sky.

Next time you look up to the night sky, just remember, you're wishing upon a rock.