Tektiitti riipus (Tasmania) n.3-4cm

Tektites are shards of terrestrial origin, and are named after the Greek word meaning tektos melted. For a long time it was unclear how tektites arise. Nowadays, it is believed by most scientists believe that tektites are solidified fragments of terrestrial rocks, which melt after impact of a meteorite and be thrown and then fall back to Earth again. During the fall, the pieces solidify into a glass-like mass. Often, the surface of a Tektite typical characteristics that have arisen during the fall. Because tektites originated from terrestrial rocks, they are rich in silica. Archaeological finds indicate that tektites since prehistoric times are known. They were used as a raw material for the manufacture of tools, for later charms. The oldest finds date back to the Stone Age (Paleolithic). The most popular tektites come from Korath in Thailand.

A meteorite is the part of a meteoroid impinges after it on the earth from space to have fallen through the atmosphere. During the trip through the atmosphere, the material is greatly slowed and very hot; this can be seen as a meteor. Essentially, a meteorite debris from space. On the basis of the composition of meteorites can sometimes be determined what the source is. For example, there are already more than twenty were found which are derived from the moon. This refers to material that another meteorite from the moon's out of control. There are also meteorites, such as ALH84001 found whose origin is Mars. In many cases, however, the meteorite came from the asteroid belt (also called asteroid belt) between Mars and Jupiter. Whether there meteorites consist of a cometary origin, is still under discussion. It is possible that some rare and very fragile species of carbonaceous meteorites of short-period comets originate. A lot of debris that comes in contact with the atmosphere does not reach the earth, but burns by the resistance of the atmosphere. The fragments that burn in the night visible as meteors, also called star rain or shooting star. For larger items that do not completely burn only partially as meteorites land on Earth, occurs when passing the atmosphere a bolide (fireball). That it can be an impressive phenomenon is apparent in the car of the Sikhote-Alin. That was very visible in full daylight. The fireball caused by the Dutch Glanerbrug meteorite from April 1990, just before sunset was visible.