Meteorite impacts have shaped the history of the solar system, with large asteroids and meteorites colliding with planets, moons, and the Sun. The most famous impact event is the one that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. This impact, which created the Chicxulub crater in Mexico, sent massive amounts of debris into the atmosphere, leading to a global climate shift.
Today, astronomers track near-Earth objects (NEOs) to assess the risk of future impacts. While large impacts are rare, smaller meteorite showers occur regularly, and their study provides insight into the early solar system’s dynamics and the potential threats from space.