The earth is constantly traveling on its orbit through space. In space there is also a huge amount of rocks and debris. As the earth moves through space, it comes near these rocks. Some of them are pulled towards the earth by gravity, but burn up once they enter the earth's atmosphere. These are meteors, but are commonly called "shooting stars." Orbiting around the earth are also hundreds of satellites. As of July 2010 there were approximately 943. To the naked eye, it may be hard to distinguish between a falling meteor and an orbiting satellite, if you don't know what to look for, that is. Show
Notice how the "star" is moving. A satellite will move in a straight line and take several minutes to cross the sky. A meteor, or shooting star, will move in less than a fraction of a second across the sky. Observe the kind of light from the "star". A satellite will brighten and dim in a regular pattern as it crosses the sky. A shooting star will show a light that brightens, then fades away as it moves. This is because it is really a meteoroid that has entered the earth's atmosphere and is burning up. Note that airplanes also move slowly across the sky, but they have typically a red blinking light. See if there is a light trail. Satellites leave no trail. A shooting star may sometimes leave a trail of light behind. You may also see the shooting star flare up before it disappears. TipsOverview What’s the difference between a meteor, meteoroid, and meteorite?They’re all related to the flashes of light called “shooting stars” sometimes seen streaking across the sky. But we call the same object by different names, depending on where it is. Scientists collecting a meteorite from the Miller Range in Antarctica. Meteoroids are objects in space that range in size from dust grains to small asteroids. Think of them as “space rocks." When meteoroids enter Earth’s atmosphere (or that of another planet, like Mars) at high speed and burn up, the fireballs or “shooting stars” are called meteors. When a meteoroid survives a trip through the atmosphere and hits the ground, it’s called a meteorite. Go farther. Explore Meteors and Meteorites In Depth › Meteor Showers FAQ: What is a Meteor Shower? FAQ: What is a Meteor Shower?Scientists estimate that about 48.5 tons (44 tonnes or 44,000 kilograms) of meteoritic material falls on the Earth each day. Almost all the material is vaporized in Earth's atmosphere, leaving a bright trail fondly called "shooting stars." Several meteors per hour can usually be seen on any given night. Sometimes the number increases dramatically—these events are termed meteor showers. Meteor showers occur annually or at regular intervals as the Earth passes through the trail of dusty debris left by a comet. Meteor showers are usually named after a star or constellation that is close to where the meteors appear in the sky. Perhaps the most famous are the Perseids, which peak in August every year. Every Perseid meteor is a tiny piece of the comet Swift-Tuttle, which swings by the Sun every 135 years. How to Photograph a Meteor Shower A Perseid meteor over Joshua Tree National Park in 2015. Credit: National Park Service/Brad Sutton. How to Photograph a Meteor ShowerTaking photographs of a meteor shower can be an exercise in patience as meteors streak across the sky quickly and unannounced, but with these tips – and some good fortune – you might be rewarded with a great photo. These tips are meant for a DSLR or mirrorless camera, but some point-and-shoot cameras with manual controls could be used as well. Read the Story › Kid-Friendly Meteors & Meteorites  Kid-Friendly Meteors & MeteoritesA meteor is a space rock—or meteoroid—that enters Earth's atmosphere. As the space rock falls toward Earth, the resistance—or drag—of the air on the rock makes it extremely hot. What we see is a "shooting star." That bright streak is not actually the rock, but rather the glowing hot air as the hot rock zips through the atmosphere. When Earth encounters many meteoroids at once, we call it a meteor shower. NASA Space Place: All About Meteors › Resources Resources
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