What is a shooting star?
A shooting star is not a star at all. It is a meteor, the bright streak of light made when a small piece of space dust or rock burns up in Earth's atmosphere.
Space is full of tiny particles called meteoroids, most no bigger than a grain of sand. When one enters Earth's atmosphere at tens of kilometers per second, it rams into air molecules and heats up. The meteoroid and the air around it glow brightly for a second or two, creating the streak we call a shooting star.
On any clear, dark night, you can usually see a few shooting stars every hour. During meteor showers, when Earth passes through dust left by a comet, you may see dozens or even more than 100 per hour. Famous showers include the Perseids in August and the Geminids in December.
Tips for spotting them
Find a dark place away from city lights, let your eyes adjust for about 20 minutes and look at a wide area of sky rather than one point. The best time is usually after midnight, when your side of Earth faces forward in its orbit and sweeps up more particles.
Did You Know?
Making a wish on a shooting star is a tradition in many cultures. Some say the custom goes back to ancient Greece, when people believed the gods peeked down at Earth.