10 shooting star facts
1. They are not stars
A shooting star is a meteor, the streak of light produced when a small piece of space material enters Earth’s atmosphere. Real stars, like the ones described in our guide to how a star differs from a planet, are enormous and far away.
2. Most are tiny
The particle behind a typical meteor is often about the size of a grain of sand or a small pebble. Larger pieces are rarer.
3. The names change as the object travels
In space the object is a meteoroid. The glowing streak in the atmosphere is a meteor. If a piece survives and lands on the ground, it is a meteorite.
4. They are very fast
Meteoroids hit the atmosphere at speeds from roughly 11 to 72 kilometers per second, depending on direction and orbit. That is why the streak usually lasts only a second or less.
5. The glow comes from heating the air
The light is mainly from superheated air and vaporized material around the particle, not from the rock “burning” like a log. Meteors typically appear at heights of around 80 to 120 kilometers.
6. They can show different colors
Color can vary with the speed and chemistry of the particle and the air. Many meteors look white or yellow, and some appear green or other tints, though the eye is not very good at color in dim light.
7. Meteor showers come from comet and asteroid debris
When Earth passes through a stream of debris left by a comet or asteroid, you see a meteor shower. The Perseids in August are linked to comet Swift-Tuttle, and the Geminids in December to the asteroid 3200 Phaethon. Other well-known showers include the Quadrantids in January and the Leonids in November.
8. Showers appear to radiate from one point
Shower meteors seem to come from a spot called the radiant, and the shower is named for the constellation it lies in (see the famous constellations). It is a perspective effect, like parallel lines appearing to meet in the distance.
9. You can see some on any clear night
Outside of showers, random “sporadic” meteors still occur. In a dark sky you might see a few per hour. This also helps explain why they seem so common: material is constantly entering the atmosphere around the world.
10. Being hit is extremely rare
Meteorites are rarely a danger. A documented case is Ann Hodges in Alabama in 1954, who was bruised by a meteorite that came through her roof. Confirmed injuries are very rare.
How to see more of them tonight
- Pick a dark site away from city lights (our camping astronomy guide shows how to plan one) and let your eyes adapt for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Lie back and take in as much sky as possible. You do not need binoculars or a telescope.
- Check the peak dates of a shower, and note that bright moonlight can wash out fainter meteors.
- Be patient and dress warmly. Meteors come in bursts and lulls.
If you want something else to look at between meteors, our list of star clusters has easy targets for binoculars.
FAQ
How fast do shooting stars travel? Roughly 11 to 72 kilometers per second as they enter the atmosphere.
Has a meteor ever hit a person? A meteor itself burns up high above. A meteorite did strike Ann Hodges in 1954, which is the best-known case.
Why are shooting stars so common? Earth continually sweeps up small debris from space, so some meteors are visible on most clear, dark nights.