What is formed when meteoroids enter the Earth's atmosphere and produce bright streaks of light?

When meteoroids enter the Earth's atmosphere and produce bright streaks of light, they are referred to as meteors. This phenomenon occurs due to the intense heat and pressure created by the meteoroids as they travel at high speeds through the atmosphere, which causes them to glow brightly. This glowing effect produces what we commonly call "shooting stars."

While the other terms are related, they refer to different stages or entities in the process. Meteoroids are the small rocky or metallic bodies in space before they enter the atmosphere. Once they survive their passage through the atmosphere and land on Earth, they are known as meteorites. Comets, on the other hand, are icy bodies that release gas or dust and often develop tails when they approach the Sun, which is a separate phenomenon altogether. Thus, the correct answer identifies the specific stage of the object as it interacts with the Earth’s atmosphere, leading to the visibility of bright streaks of light.