| micrometeorite |
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A particle of meteoritic material so small that its energy is dissipated before it burns up in the Earth's atmosphere. Micrometeorites fall to Earth as a rain of minute dust particles. It is estimated that four million kilograms fall to Earth each year in this form. The size of particle is typically less than 120 micrometres. Such particles have been collected by experiments in space, and ferrous particles can be detected at the Earth's surface through their magnetic properties. See also: F corona, meteor, meteorite, zodiacal light. |