<p>Meteors are objects, usually rocks that enter the earth's atmosphere from outer space. When a massive rock is floating in space or orbiting the sun, it's called an asteroid. If by some chance, it begins to move through space, it then becomes a meteoroid. If or when it enters the earth's atmosphere, that's when its called a meteor. As it enters the earth's atmosphere, the speed of its decent makes it heat up rapidly and burn. That's what people call shooting stars. But most meteors are too weak to withstand the heat and the force of its decent through the atmosphere so they are broken apart long before they reach the earth's surface. That's why shooting stars seem to disappear eventually</p>