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

Astrophotographer Jeff Berkes took this photo of the Quadrantid meteor shower on Jan. 4, 2012.

How to watch the Quadrantids – one of the best meteor showers all year – on Jan. 2 and 3

By Stephanie Pappas published

The Quadrantid meteor shower is considered one of the best to view all year. Here's how to maximize your chances of seeing shooting stars.

The Geminid meteor shower can produce over one hundred meteors per hour. In this photograph, the Geminid meteor shower is seen above the Kubuqi Desert of Inner Mongolia, China on Dec. 13, 2020.

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

By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

Reference The Geminid meteor shower peaks the night of Dec. 13-14. Our guide tells you the best times and places to see the Geminids (no equipment necessary).

The Russian-built Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft docked at the International Space Station above a blue Earth.

Hole in leaky Russian Soyuz spacecraft not caused by Geminid meteor

By Mike Wall published

It's still unclear why a Russian Soyuz spacecraft at the International Space Station sprang a leak last week, but one suspect has been ruled out: a strike by a Geminid meteor.

An illustration of the night sky on Dec. 22 showing the Ursid meteor shower originating from the constellation Ursa Minor.

The Ursid meteor shower, last 'shooting stars' of 2022, peaks tonight

By Stefanie Waldek published

The Ursid meteor shower peaks tonight (Dec. 22 into the morning of Dec. 23), offering the last shooting stars of the year.

A meteor streaks across the night sky over the Lhasa River on December 14, 2022 in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Ursid meteor shower shines with ideal dark sky conditions this year

By Joe Rao published

The moon will be at new moon phase on Dec. 23 when the Ursid meteor shower reaches its peak, meaning it won't provide any hindrance at all for meteor watching.

A fireball with unexpected features as seen by the Global Fireball Observatory camera at Miquelon Lake Provincial Park, Alberta.

Scientists trace fireball to strange rocky meteoroid from the edge of the solar system

By Robert Lea published

A rocky meteoroid that exploded over Canada last year was more extraordinary than it first seemed: it originated from the outer solar system, where scientists thought only icy bodies exist.

An image of the night sky showing the Ursid meteor shower originating from the Ursa Minor constellation.

Look up! The Ursid meteor shower starts tonight (Dec. 17)

By Robert Lea published

A more low-key meteor shower than the Geminids, the Ursid meteor shower begins on Saturday, Dec. 17, and last throughout the Christmas period.

A Gemini meteor streaking across the sky above the Point Reyes shipwreck in California.

The Geminid meteor shower of 2022 wowed skywatchers with bright fireballs (photos)

By Tereza Pultarova published

One of the most spectacular showers of the year,, the Geminid meteor shower, peaked tonight and avid skywatchers all over the world were able to capture the spectacle.

An illustration of the night sky on Dec. 13 showing the Geminid meteor shower originating from the Gemini constellation.

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

By Stefanie Waldek published

The Geminid meteor shower will peak overnight tonight (Dec. 13 and Dec. 14), producing anywhere from 60 to 120 meteors per hour.

An illustration of the night sky on Dec. 13 showing the Geminid meteor shower originating from near the bright star Castor in the constellation of Gemini.

See the Geminid meteor shower light up the night sky this week on Dec. 14

By Robert Lea published

Skywatchers willing to brave the cold of mid-December can catch the peak of the Geminid meteor shower on Wednesday (Dec. 14).

A meteor of the Geminid shower is pictured on January 3, 2022 in Beijing, China.

Don't miss the Geminid meteor shower peak next week on Dec. 14

By Joe Rao published

The Geminid meteor shower is predicted to reach its peak before dawn next Wednesday morning (Dec. 14).

three bright streaks in sky above rocky black surface with patches of red lava

Gamma-rays may have helped meteorites seed Earth with the building blocks of life

By Robert Lea published

New research solves the puzzle of how amino acids formed within space rocks that bombarded Earth during the violent early epoch of the solar system.

An illustration of a meteorite in space heading towards Earth.

Meteorites reveal how they brought space water to Earth

By Elizabeth Rayne published

Meteorites that fall to Earth are ancient time capsules, and scientists who merged two imaging techniques may be able to tell us if and how they brought water to Earth.

A chunk of black and gray meteoric rock which contains the two brand-new minerals

2 minerals never seen before on Earth found inside 17-ton meteorite

By Ben Turner published

The minerals were found inside a slice of the El Ali meteorite, which was discovered in Somalia in 2020.

leonid meteor streaks through the sky.

The Leonid meteor shower peaks tonight (Nov. 17)

By Robert Lea published

The Leonid meteor shower, created when the Earth passes through dust left behind by the Comet Tempel-Tuttle, peaks on Thurs to Fri, Nov. 17 to Nov. 18.

The Milky Way is reflected in an Alpine Lake as three Leonid meteors streak overhead.

The Leonid meteor shower of 2022 peaks this week. Here's what to expect.

By Joe Rao published

Scientists have produced various models of the Leonid meteor shower and all of them are indicating that the Earth will intersect a few "rivers of rubble" left behind by comet Tempel-Tuttle this year.

Northern Taurids Meteor Shower Peak

Watch for fireballs as the Northern Taurid meteor shower peaks tonight (Nov. 12)

By Robert Lea published

The Taurid meteor shower created as Earth passes through debris left behind by the comet Encke peaks on Saturday Nov. 12 with an increased opportunity to see a bright fireball erupt in the sky.

December is usually marked by a series of meteor showers. Geminid meteors, like the one seen here, light up the skies at the beginning of the month, while the Ursids put on a show just before Christmas.

The Ursid meteor shower peaks tonight. Don't expect to see many 'shooting stars.'

By Joe Rao last updated

The Ursid meteor shower of 2021 will peak overnight on Dec. 21 but don't expect a great meteor display.

December is usually marked by a series of meteor showers. Geminid meteors (like the one seen in this picture of Florida) light up the skies at the beginning of the month, while the Ursids — which peak tonight (Dec. 21-22) — put on a show just before Christmas.

The Ursid meteor shower of 2020 is peaking now! Here's what to expect.

By Joe Rao last updated

There is one more meteor shower to consider before we close the book on 2020: the December Ursid meteor shower, which usually occurs during the overnight hours of Dec. 21-22.

A long-exposure photograph shows Perseid meteors in August 2009.

The Geminid meteor shower, the best of 2020, peaks this weekend. Here's what to expect.

By Joe Rao last updated

The Geminid meteor shower, which will likely be the very best meteor display of the year, is just around the corner, predicted to peak late on Sunday night (Dec. 13).