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In a massive galactic collision, the stars much further apart than the water droplets in a rain cloud; the odds that any two stars would collide would be astronomical. However, the number of stars IS "astronomical", in the trillions for a big galaxy like the Milky Way and Andromeda, which WILL collide in about 4 billion years. So it's very possible that at least two such stars will collide, with catastrophic results; in all likelihood, the two stars would start to merge and promptly go nova, destroying them.
But as a general rule, stars don't collide.
Galaxies are generally very far apart, and don't move all that quickly, so galactic collisions aren't particularly common. And they take millions of years to collide.
That said, however, astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have imaged several galaxies which are either about to collide, are in the middle of a collision, or which have recently separated after a collision.
The answer, I think, is the Anthropic Principle. Large amounts of collissions (with large asteroids) are disastrous for life, so life couldn't develop until the amount of collissions were reduced - once most of the asteroids and meteorites (the "planetesimals") had combined into larger pieces. Note that in the early history of the Solar System, there were much more such collissions.
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All meteorites collected on Earth come from asteroids or comets?
Most meteorites come from asteroids, which are rocky bodies orbiting the sun. Some meteorites could also come from comets, which are icy bodies. Both asteroids and comets can collide with Earth, resulting in meteorites.
Why are there so many meteorites near earth?
Meteorites are rocky or metallic debris that enter Earth's atmosphere and survive the intense heat to land on the surface. The high frequency of meteorite impacts near Earth is due to the large number of asteroids and comets present in the solar system. These objects frequently intersect Earth's orbit and can collide with our planet, leading to meteorite impacts.
What is meheorites?
Meteorites are solid objects that originate from space and survive the impact with the Earth's surface. They are fragments of asteroids, comets, or other celestial bodies that make it through the Earth's atmosphere and reach the ground. Scientists study meteorites to learn more about the composition and history of our solar system.
Where meteorites came from?
Meteorites can from asteroids that landed on Earth's surface. They were originally chipped off larger planetary bodies by bolide impact.
Why did the earth get hit with meteorites?
Meteorites hit Earth due to the gravitational pull between planets and other celestial bodies in our solar system. Most meteorites come from asteroids or comets that collide with Earth as they travel through space. These impacts have been happening for billions of years and are a natural part of the universe's dynamics.
All meteorites collected on Earth come from asteroids or comets?
Most meteorites come from asteroids, which are rocky bodies orbiting the sun. Some meteorites could also come from comets, which are icy bodies. Both asteroids and comets can collide with Earth, resulting in meteorites.
What will collide with earth that provides evidence of earth's inner composition?
Meteorites that originate from the asteroid belt can collide with Earth, carrying evidence of Earth's inner composition. By analyzing these meteorites, scientists can study the interior structure and composition of our planet.
How asteroids and meteorites linked?
A meteorite is an asteroid that is pulled into the Earth's atmosphere.
How are meteorites formed?
Meteorites are formed from fragments of asteroids, planets, or moons that collide in space. These fragments are flung into space due to impacts, volcanic eruptions, or other geological events. Some meteorites come from the Moon or Mars, ejected by asteroid impacts. Once these fragments enter Earth's atmosphere without burning up, they are called meteorites.
Why are there so many meteorites near earth?
Meteorites are rocky or metallic debris that enter Earth's atmosphere and survive the intense heat to land on the surface. The high frequency of meteorite impacts near Earth is due to the large number of asteroids and comets present in the solar system. These objects frequently intersect Earth's orbit and can collide with our planet, leading to meteorite impacts.
What is meheorites?
Meteorites are solid objects that originate from space and survive the impact with the Earth's surface. They are fragments of asteroids, comets, or other celestial bodies that make it through the Earth's atmosphere and reach the ground. Scientists study meteorites to learn more about the composition and history of our solar system.
Where meteorites came from?
Meteorites can from asteroids that landed on Earth's surface. They were originally chipped off larger planetary bodies by bolide impact.
Why did the earth get hit with meteorites?
Meteorites hit Earth due to the gravitational pull between planets and other celestial bodies in our solar system. Most meteorites come from asteroids or comets that collide with Earth as they travel through space. These impacts have been happening for billions of years and are a natural part of the universe's dynamics.
What were meteorites before they got knocked out of their orbit?
Meteorites were originally asteroids or fragments of other celestial bodies that were orbiting in space. When they collided with other objects or were influenced by gravitational forces, they were knocked out of their orbit and eventually fell to Earth's surface as meteorites.
What kind of meteorites are analogous in composition to Earths Core?
Iron meteorites, which are composed mainly of iron and nickel, are analogous in composition to Earth's core. They are thought to originate from the cores of differentiated asteroids that were disrupted by collisions and then fell to Earth as meteorites.
What difference do asteroids have from other space components?
Asteroids are mass of earth or rock about the size ranging from 1 km to even 500 km. Meteorites are smaller than asteroids.
Do asteroids impact earth?
Yes, but fortunately, very rarely.
