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Leonids do not burn up due to friction

The myth that meteors shine because they rub against air molecules can be found in many news stories and reference articles about the Leonids and meteors in general.

In fact, a meteor moves so fast that the air in front of it is compressed and heated by a phenomenon called ram pressure. It’s the same thing that warms a hand-held pump when you work it to fill a bike tire.

The heated air, in turn, scorches the meteor. Temperatures can exceed 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1,650 Celsius).

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