Meteor shower

Definition

A meteor shower is an event where numerous meteors are observed to radiate from a single point in the night sky. These meteors are caused by streams of cosmic debris entering Earth's atmosphere at extremely high speeds.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through the debris left by a comet or asteroid.
2. The point in the sky from which the meteors appear to originate is called the radiant.
3. Meteor showers are named after the constellation in which their radiant lies.
4. The Perseid meteor shower, visible each August, is one of the most well-known and reliable meteor showers.
5. During a peak of a meteor shower, dozens to hundreds of meteors can be seen per hour.

Review Questions

• What causes a meteor shower?
• How is the radiant of a meteor shower defined?
• Why are meteor showers named after constellations?

Related terms

Meteor:

A small particle from a comet or asteroid that burns up upon entering Earth's atmosphere.

Comet:

A celestial object made of ice and dust that, when passing close to the Sun, displays a visible coma and sometimes a tail.

Asteroid:

A small rocky body orbiting the Sun, mostly found between Mars and Jupiter in the asteroid belt.