It would appear that one or more small planetary bodies or moons have collided and have scattered debris throughout the solar system. Much of that debris has found a relatively stable orbit between Mars and Jupiter. Naturally, if such an impact occurred, particles and chunks of both worlds would have bombarded the entire solar system, and some may have even escaped the gravity of our system to travel through space until caught by the gravity of a distant star, planet, or moon. Most begin glowing at about 100 miles up in the Ionosphere, but are totally vaporized as they reach the Stratosphere about 40 miles above Earth's surface. A few larger pieces may actually make it through the atmosphere, and fall to Earth as meteorites.
Bolides are larger pieces that explode, and leave behind a magnificent glowing trail.
Some of their larger fragments may reach the ground as meteorites. Some break up spectacularly, with chunks falling away from the main body. These are scientifically the most valuable, because they are fresh and uncontaminated by soil erosion. Scientists study the differences between meteorites and Earth-based rocks and minerals to try to understand the composition of our planet, as well as other celestial bodies. There is some discussion in the astronomical community of the true nature of tektites.