How Fast Is Meteor Entry?

Meteors enter Earth's atmosphere at typically 50,000 m/s. Friction vaporises most before they reach the ground — what we see as 'shooting stars' is the air glowing white-hot from compression. The Chelyabinsk meteor of 2013 hit at 64 km/s and exploded over Russia.

A "shooting star" isn't the meteor itself — it's the air around it glowing white-hot from compressive heating.

• Mach 150
• Friction vaporises most before they land