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# Meteorite Impacts ## 6.5 Meteorite Impacts **6.5.1 What is a meteorite?** * A **meteor** is a shooting star. * A **meteorite** is a meteor that reaches Earth’s surface before being completely burned up in the atmosphere. * It's a celestial body that reaches Earth without being entirely burned u...

# Meteorite Impacts ## 6.5 Meteorite Impacts **6.5.1 What is a meteorite?** * A **meteor** is a shooting star. * A **meteorite** is a meteor that reaches Earth’s surface before being completely burned up in the atmosphere. * It's a celestial body that reaches Earth without being entirely burned up. **6.5.2 What is a meteorite impact?** * A meteorite impact occurs when a large meteorite collides with the ground. * The holes these impacts leave are called craters or astroblemes. * Most meteorites land in the ocean (70% of Earth's surface is covered by water). * The size of the meteorite determines if it is completely destroyed in the atmosphere, or if it reaches the ground. ## Meteors and Meteorites * **Differences between meteors and meteorites:** (A table would be beneficial, however, this is all the text available) * If a meteor is small, like a pea, it's completely destroyed in the atmosphere. * If larger, it is not entirely destroyed and can reach the ground. At this point, it is called a meteorite. ## Signs of Meteorites in Québec * Meteorite impacts shape the terrain over time. * Impacts happen approximately every 1000 years. * Examples of impact craters in Québec include the Pingualuit crater and the Manicouagan Reservoir. ## Did a meteorite really kill the dinosaurs? * Scientists believe it is **very likely** that a meteorite or asteroid impact led to the extinction of dinosaurs * An enormous crater was found near the coast of Mexico. * The impact occurred around 65 million years ago. This is the same time the dinosaurs disappeared. **Additional Information:** * **Pingualuit crater:** Approximately 1.4 million years old, 400 m deep, and 3.4 km in diameter. * **Manicouagan Reservoir:** 210 million years old. * **Charlevoix crater:** A massive depression in the landscape.