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).