[RegulatorCountry]

I guess if we hadn’t been taught that, it would be easy to make the mistake that Medved and NASA(!) made. “Asteroid” just sounds big-@$$ed, and popular entertainment has certainly helped that perception along. It’s always an asteroid impact that destroys the world.

“Meteor” sounds sort of diminutive by comparison, like a “mini-asteroid,” so many take it to mean just that.

Then, we get to the meteorite, which sounds even more diminutive, a mistaken “meterorette” if you will. A little, itty bitty one ... petite.

I blame the French, lol.

[TigersEye]

It is kind of a funny distinction. A piece of rock can exist as an asteroid for millions of years. Maybe billions. But then it hits the atmosphere and it's a meteor for a minute or two at best. Most of them only last a few seconds.

It's about time the French took the blame they deserve.
Bush has been taking the load off of their shoulders for far too long. heh