Have you ever looked up at the night sky and seen a quick flash of light, making you want to make a wish? Many people call these “shooting stars,” but what are they really? In this article, we’ll learn about the science behind shooting stars, what they’re made of, and how they travel from space to our sky.
Space is full of tiny bits and pieces, like dust, small rocks, and chunks of ice that break off from comets. We call these little pieces **meteoroids**. They’re usually too small to see from Earth unless they come into our atmosphere.
When a meteoroid zooms through the Earth’s atmosphere, it rubs against air particles. This rubbing creates a lot of heat, making the meteoroid glow and leaving a bright trail of light in the sky. At this point, we call it a **meteor**. The color and brightness of a meteor can change depending on how fast it goes and what it’s made of. For example:
– **Sodium** can make a yellow light.
– **Copper** can make a blue light.
Most meteors burn up completely before they reach the ground, but sometimes, bigger meteoroids make it all the way down.
If a meteoroid is big enough to survive its fiery trip and land on Earth, we call it a **meteorite**. Meteorites can be different sizes, but most are pretty small—often smaller than a loaf of bread. In rare cases, a meteorite can be big enough to make a crater, which is a big dent in the ground where it hit.
So, the next time you wish upon a “shooting star,” remember that you’re actually wishing on a meteor! Even though these bright streaks aren’t stars, they’re still an amazing part of our universe. Whether your wish comes true or not, seeing a meteor light up the sky is a wonderful reminder of the wonders of space.
If you’re curious about space or have other questions, feel free to ask!
