[shellback3]

The last I heard a meteor is a flash of light caused by a meteorite interacting with the atmosphere. Is this distinction, like 'lecturn', now dead?

[fhdkweig]

My understanding of the terminology is that:

Meteor is a rock in space or in the atmosphere.

Meteorite is the rock after it touches the ground.

Falling/shooting star is the flash of light.

I have never heard of meteor being the flash of light.