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Meteorites, by definition, are extraterrestrial objects that survive their journey through Earth's atmosphere and reach the Earth's surface. While there are numerous meteoroids (smaller fragments) and debris in orbit around the Earth, they are not considered meteorites because they have not yet landed on the planet's surface.

When objects from space, such as asteroids or comets, enter Earth's atmosphere, the intense heat and friction cause them to burn up and disintegrate, resulting in a streak of light known as a meteor or shooting star. Most of these meteors are relatively small and completely burn up before reaching the surface.

However, occasionally larger objects, such as asteroids, do survive the atmospheric entry and impact the Earth's surface. These surviving objects are called meteorites. They can be found on the Earth's surface, typically in areas like deserts, remote regions, or even in the ocean.

It's important to note that while meteorites do exist on Earth, they are relatively rare compared to the amount of space debris and meteoroids that burn up in the atmosphere. The majority of meteorites are small in size, and their orbits around the Sun are not specifically tailored to intersect with Earth's orbit. Therefore, the chances of a meteorite being in orbit around Earth at any given time are exceedingly low.

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