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

RocketLab's Electron rocket launching the moon-bound CAPSTONE mission on June 28, 2022.

Pictures from space! Our image of the day

By Space.com Staff published

RocketLab's Electron rocket lifted off from New Zealand's Māhia Peninsula on Tuesday (June 28) with a pioneering moon-bound satellite aboard, leaving a stunning trail in its wake.

illustration of planet formation

Mars meteorite challenges leading theory of how the Red Planet formed

By Andrew Jones published

A new analysis of a Martian meteorite is challenging current thinking about how terrestrial planets acquired volatile elements early in their formation.

Asteroid collisions in the early solar system exposed their iron cores to space, allowing them to cool rapidly.

Iron meteorites point to millions of years of chaos in early solar system

By Keith Cooper published

An asteroid demolition derby took place between 7.8 million and 11.7 million years after the birth of the solar system.

A tau Herculids meteor streaks above sandstone formations at the Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada on May 30, 2022. The shooting star came from the shards of comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann, or SW3.

New tau Herculid meteor shower drops bright fireballs, but no 'meteor storm,' for stargazers (photos)

By Elizabeth Howell published

"Shooting stars" from a new meteor shower lit up the night sky in a dazzling display, even if it wasn't a "meteor storm" some stargazers hoped for.

Artist's illustration of a meteor shower.

Possible early tau Herculid meteors caught on camera

By Elizabeth Howell published

Reports are coming in from observers who caught a few early shooting stars.

Artist's illustration of a meteor shower.

Want to see the potential tau Herculids meteor shower? Here's what to expect, according to NASA.

By Elizabeth Howell published

If you're hoping to see the potential tau Herculids meteor shower, NASA advises you to check the weather and be ready for the unexpected.

Artist's illustration of a meteor shower.

Possible outburst of tau Herculids meteors tonight!

By Elizabeth Howell published

A potential meteor shower may emerge from Hercules tonight (May 31-31). Keep your eyes peeled and your fingers crossed.

Three different views of the Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 by astrophysicist Gianluca Masi, Bellatrix Observatory, Virtual Telescope Project.

How to watch the potential tau Herculids meteor storm live online tonight

By Tariq Malik published

A free Virtual Telescope Project webcast will stream live views of the potential meteor storm from the tau Herculids meteor shower overnight on May 30-31.

These star trails are from the Eta Aquarids meteor shower of 2020.

A 'meteor storm' of 1,000 shooting stars per hour may light up the skies over North America this week

By Elizabeth Howell published

A painting of the Leonid meteor storm of 1833 over the Niagra Falls by Edmund Weiß in 1888.

Fragments of a dying comet might put on a spectacular show — or pass by without a trace

By Jonti Horner, Tanya Hill published

Occasionally, Earth runs through a particularly narrow, dense clump of debris, resulting in a meteor storm.

Astrophotographer Sean Parker produced this image of Quandrantid meteors over Tucson, Arizona on Jan. 3, 2013.

A potential new meteor shower from shattered comet has scientists excited

By Rahul Rao published

This weekend, Earthlings might be treated to the sight of a new meteor shower. Astronomers certainly hope it happens.

Dozens of meteors from the Geminids fill the night sky.

The greatest meteor storms of all time

By Joe Rao published

Meteor storms can contain thousands of meteors an hour. Here, we take a look at some of history's greatest meteor storms dating back to the late 18th century.

A meteor streaks over China in January 2022.

May's possible meteor storm offers chance to listen to 'shooting stars' on the radio

By Joe Rao published

"Shooting stars" from the tau Herculids meteor shower may be visible late this month, but you might want to listen for them instead.

Artist's illustration of a meteor shower.

Potential new meteor shower is 'all or nothing event,' says NASA astronomer

By Elizabeth Howell published

A blast of new meteors may emerge during a tau Herculid meteor shower on May 30 and 31, but that's not a sure thing.

Observations of debris generated by the 2007 outburst of comet 17P/Holmes made in February 2015.

Debris from the most spectacular comet outburst ever could thrill skywatchers in August

By Tereza Pultarova published

Dust particles produced by the largest comet outburst ever detected will be visible even to amateur ground-based telescopes this summer, a study found.

Artist's illustration of a meteor shower.

A meteor shower outburst from a shattered comet may spawn new tau Herculids display on May 30

By Joe Rao published

The tau Herculids from comet 73P/Schwassman-Wachmann which began to fragment in 1995 may make an appearance on the night of May 30-31.

A meteor streaks across the night sky in Bazhou, Xinjiang Province, China, in the early morning of December 14, 2021.

Watch Space.com columnist Joe Rao talk upcoming lunar eclipse and meteor outburst

By Joe Rao published

Space.com columnist Joe Rao will talk about the upcoming lunar eclipse potential meteor outburst in a series of virtual talks.

An Eta Aquarid meteor streaks across the sky.

Eta Aquarid meteor shower of 2022 thrills stargazers in these stunning photos

By Elizabeth Howell published

Meteor streaks delighted skywatchers this weekend as the Earth passed through the dust trail of Halley's Comet in an annual meteor shower display.

An Eta Aquarid meteor streaks across the sky.

The Eta Aquarid meteor shower of 2022 is peaking now. Here's how to see it.

By Elizabeth Howell published

Early risers can catch as many as 30 meteors an hour, weather permitting, during an overnight shower peaking Friday (May 6).

The Eta Aquarids meteor shower

The Eta Aquarid meteor shower is the legacy of Halley's Comet in May's night sky

By Joe Rao published

Do you remember Halley's Comet? The last time this famous object was visible was in 1986, 36 years ago.