meteors

Burning atmospheric visitors

Meteors are streaks of light that appear in the night sky when small pieces of space debris burn up upon entering Earth's atmosphere.

The visible phenomenon—commonly called a shooting star or falling star—lasts only seconds as friction with atmospheric gases incinerates the material.

If any portion survives to reach the ground, that remnant is called a meteorite.

During a meteor shower, Earth passes through a trail of debris left by a comet, producing dozens of visible meteors per hour.

meteoroid

asteroid

Sun-orbiting rocky mass

cometIcy orbiting body
space rockExtraterrestrial geological fragment
interplanetaryBetween celestial bodies

orbit · solar system · planetesimal · cosmic dust · debris · celestial body · trajectory · velocity · iron-nickel · stony

fireball

bolide

Detonating meteor, very bright

luminousEmitting or reflecting light
brilliantIntensely bright or gifted
incandescenceLight from heated objects

radiance · airburst · explosion · detonation · sonic boom · fragmentation · energy release · green flash · magnitude

meteorite

impact

Forceful contact or consequence

craterImpact or volcanic basin
chondriteMeteorite containing round grains
tektiteNatural glass from meteorite strikes

micrometeorite · fall · find · specimen · collector · museum · carbonaceous · amino acids · presolar grains · Antarctic

shower

Perseids

August meteor shower

GeminidsDecember meteor display
radiantEmitting light or joy
annualOccurring every year

outburst · comet trail · August · November · viewing · activity · frequency

observation

telescope

Instrument magnifying faraway objects

binocularsHandheld dual-lens magnifier
cameraImage capturing device
time-lapseFilming at intervals, playing fast

photography · radar · IMO · citizen science · reporting · count · hourly rate · light pollution · moonless · patience

meteors

asteroid

bolide

impact

Perseids

telescope

meteors

Opposites

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