Meteors

Meteors, also known as shooting stars, are pieces of dust and debris from space that burn up in Earth's atmosphere, where they can create bright streaks across the night sky. When Earth passes through the dusty trail of a comet or asteroid's orbit, the many streaks of light in the sky are known as a meteor shower. Particularly large chunks of material can create an extra-bright fireball streak, but most meteors are still small enough to entirely burn up in Earth's atmosphere. If a meteor makes it to Earth it's known as a meteorite. Before they hit atmosphere the objects are called meteoroids. 

Related Topics: Asteroids, Aurora Borealis, Comets 

Latest Updates

a wide view of the night sky shows many outlined constellations, with protruding lines indicating the Leonids meteor shower

The Leonid meteor shower peaks today. Here's how to see it

By Joe Rao last updated

One of the most famous of the annual meteor showers will soon be reaching its maximum: The Leonids. These ultrafast meteors are due to reach their peak on Saturday morning (Nov. 18).

several meteors streak across the star-studded sky leaving long white trails across the night sky above a vegetated terrain.

Leonid meteor shower 2023: When, where & how to see it

By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

Reference The Leonid meteor shower is active between Nov. 3 and Dec. 2 and will peak on Nov. 17-18, producing up to 15 meteors per hour.

a wide view of the night sky shows many outlined constellations, with protruding lines indicating the northern taurids

The Taurid meteor shower peaks tonight. Here's how to see it.

By Brett Tingley published

The Northern Taurid meteor shower peaks overnight on Nov. 11, offering the chance to see fireballs created by debris from Comet 2P/Encke burning up in Earth's atmosphere.

A large bright streak of light across the star-studded background with the aurora borealis shining below as a ribbon of green light.

Taurid meteor shower 2023: When, where & how to see it

By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

Reference The Taurid meteor shower is composed of two streams known as the Southern Taurids and the Northern Taurids. We explore this impressive shower in more detail here.

Artist's illustration of Japan's DESTINY+ asteroid probe in space, with earth in the background.

Japan's mission to bizarre asteroid Phaethon delayed to 2025

By Andrew Jones published

Japan's DESTINY+ mission to 3200 Phaethon, the parent body of the famous Geminid meteor shower, will have to wait a bit longer to get off the ground.

the bright white streak of a meteor stands out in the upper left of an image showing the dark sky.

Look up! The Taurid meteor shower peaks next week

By Joe Rao published

If skies are clear during this upcoming week, be sure to take a few moments to gaze upward. You just might be lucky and catch a glimpse of a spectacular sky sight — a Taurid meteor.

jupiter is enlarged in the night sky near constellations aries and pisces and cetus

See Jupiter shine bright during the Taurid meteor shower Nov. 3

By Brett Tingley published

Jupiter will be opposite the sun as seen from Earth on Friday (Nov. 3), shining brightly throughout the night as the Northern and Southern Taurid meteor showers approach their peaks.

a pile of gems in a dark reflective case

Space rocks and asteroid dust are pricey, but these aren’t the most expensive materials used in science

By Chris Impey published

I use Moon and Mars rocks in my teaching and have a modest collection of meteorites. I marvel at the fact that I can hold in my hand something that is billions of years old from billions of miles away.

a meteor streaks through a starry sky

The Orionid meteor shower peaks this weekend. Here's how to see it

By Joe Rao published

During the third week of October, the meteor display spawned by the debris shed by Halley reaches its peak: The Orionid meteor shower.

Draconid meteors streak across the night sky. The Milky Way can also be seen stretching across the star-studded sky.

Draconid meteor shower 2024: When, where & how to see it

By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

Reference The Draconid meteor shower peaks around Oct. 8. Here we explore what the Draconids are, where they are found and how you can see them.

A line of light stretches across a star-studded sky next to a little white lighthouse perched on the rocks.

Orionid meteor shower 2023: When, where & how to see it

By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

Reference The Orionid meteor shower peaks between Oct. 20 and Oct. 21 and is visible until early November. We explore the annual shower in more detail here.

the next meteor shower could produce a dazzling display like the one in this photo of the Geminids. The image shows a sky full of shooting stars above a tree and a lone person.

Meteor showers 2023: When is the next one?

By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

Reference Our meteor showers 2023 calendar will tell you everything you need to know about upcoming meteor showers, including where and when to see them.

Draconid meteors streak across the night sky. The Milky Way can also be seen stretching across the star-studded sky.

The Draconid meteor shower peaks this weekend. Here's how to see it

By Brett Tingley published

The Draconid meteor shower will be active from Oct. 6 to Oct. 10, reaching its peak on Monday (Oct. 9) under a fairly dark moon.

a circular overhead view of the sky and shooting stars and the milky way

Watch the glow of the Milky Way and ghostly zodiacal light during the 2023 Perseid meteor shower (video)

By Miguel Claro published

The new moon glows in the sky above Turkey with the reflected light of Earth shining upon it in gorgeous photos by astrophotographer Miguel Claro.

A green fireball streaks across the sky over Alberta, Canada

Enormous fireball meteor turns the sky over Turkey green in eerie viral video

By Ben Turner published

A stunning bright-green fireball was captured by a phone camera in a playground in Turkey.

a light brown rock dotted with light green crystals

4.6 billion-year-old meteorite could reveal how Earth formed different layers

By Robert Lea published

One of the oldest meteorites ever discovered, the 4.6 billion-year-old Erg Chech 002 discovered in the Sahara desert in 2020, could reveal vital information about the formation of the solar system.

Perseid meteor shower 2024 should be a good display. This image shows a figure looking through a camera lens with perseid meteors raining down from above.

Perseid meteor shower 2024: When, where & how to see it

By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

Reference The Perseid meteor shower will peak around Aug.12 and Aug.13. Our guide tells you how and where to look for them.

a dark, shiny iron meteorite rests on a white surface

Rare iron meteorite could help reveal secrets of early solar system

By Robert Lea published

Scientists have discovered the origin of a rare iron meteorite that fell to Earth in 2020. It's the first iron meteorite from a parent body with a known orbit.

A brown, rocky-looking arrowhead is seen.

Meteorite that crashed to Earth 3,500 years ago carved into arrowhead by Bronze Age hunters

By Jennifer Nalewicki published

A Bronze Age arrowhead found in Switzerland was made using meteoric iron.

a person stands near a lake under a sky full of perseid meteors.

Watch the Perseid meteor shower tonight with this free telescope livestream

By Robert Lea published

Skywatchers can enjoy the popular Perseid meteor shower from the comfort of their own homes when it peaks on Saturday (Aug.12) and Sunday (Aug. 13).