How does a meteor shower happen?
Quick Answer
Earth passes through a stream of debris left behind by a comet or, less often, an asteroid. The tiny particles burn up in the atmosphere and make streaks of light.
The Full Story
Meteor showers occur when Earth crosses a dusty trail in space, usually laid down by a comet as it sheds material near the Sun. When the debris enters Earth’s atmosphere at high speed, friction and compression heat it until it glows and vaporizes. The apparent point from which the meteors seem to radiate is called the shower’s radiant, such as Perseus for the Perseids. Some showers are annual because Earth crosses the same debris stream at the same time each year.
Key Facts
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"Why the sky can rain streaks of light every year."
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