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

Perseid meteor shower where meteors streak through the star-studded sky above wooden alpine cabins. The band of the Milky Way stretches across the sky in the center of the image.

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

By Sarah Lewin, Chelsea Gohd, Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

Reference The Perseid meteor shower will peak between Aug. 11 and 12. Here we explore what the Perseids are, where they occur and how you can see them for yourself.

Shutterstock

A triple meteoric spectacle is set to grace our skies this weekend

By Jonti Horner, Tanya Hill published

This weekend might have three meteor showers active at the same time, combining to provide a celestial firework display almost all through the night.

A bright meteor can be seen in the night sky above a harbor in Sydney, Australia.

Meteor brightens up the sky above Sydney as peak meteor showers arrive

By Tereza Pultarova published

The peak shooting star season has arrived with six meteor showers expected to pepper Earth in the upcoming weeks as the planet hurtles through fields of cometary debris.

Graphic from Starry Night software showing the location of the Aquarius constellation in the night sky.

The Southern Delta Aquariid meteor shower of 2022 is peaking now

By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

The Delta Aquarrids meteor shower peaks tonight (July 29). The shower commonly generates about 15-20 meteors per hour and is best viewed around 3 a.m. local time.

A red and silver meteorite from diablo canyon

Strange, never-before-seen diamond crystal structure found inside 'Diablo canyon' meteorite

By JoAnna Wendel published

Graphene found interlocked with diamonds inside an ancient meteorite could be the key to superfast, supercharged tech.

A fireball is visible over College Station, Texas on July 24, 2022.

Brilliant fireball explodes high in Texas sky before dawn (video)

By Elizabeth Howell last updated

A bright fireball exploded over Texas on Sunday night (July 24), waking up hundreds of residents with a sonic boom, which suggests parts of the rock may have reached Earth.

Stars and meteors can be seen in the night sky as a man watches the Perseid meteor shower on the Pamir Plateau on August 13, 2021 in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China.

6 meteor showers will likely offer better views than the Perseids this summer

By Joe Rao last updated

The nearly full moon will likely spoil views of the Perseids this year. Here are six minor meteor showers that might give you the chance to spot "shooting stars."

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 last updated

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 last updated

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 last updated

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 last updated

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 last updated

"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 last updated

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.