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Meteor Shower

A display of meteors streaking through the sky at rates of several to hundreds per hour. Whenever Earth intercepts a stream of comet debris in orbit around the Sun, some of the debris falls into Earth’s atmosphere, producing the meteor shower. Two of the best annual meteor showers are the Perseids in August and the Leonids in November. See our list of this year’s meteor showers for more information.

Resources

Earth

Earth February 10, 2016
Aquarius

Aquarius October 4, 2011
Mars meteorite

Meteorites May 19, 2010

Radio Programs

Moon and More Moon, planets, and meteors January 2, 2017

Leonid Meteors Meteors and moonlight November 15, 2016

Orionid Meteors Faint meteors and bright moonlight October 20, 2016

Moon, Meteors, and More The Moon, meteors, and more August 11, 2016

Perseid Meteors Finding the cause of meteor showers August 10, 2016

Mars and Meteors Mars, meteors, and the Moon — after this. January 3, 2016

Geminid Meteors Dark skies for a meteor shower December 12, 2015

Orionid Meteors Reminders of a distant comet October 18, 2015

More Perseids Flashes of light in the summer night August 10, 2015

Perseid Meteors Fiery skies from comet dust August 9, 2015

Meteorites III Picking up some unusual rocks April 18, 2015

Meteor Plots On the trail of “shooting stars” January 28, 2015

Quadrantid Meteors The changing landscape of the sky January 1, 2015

Geminid Meteors Fireworks from the celestial twins December 11, 2014

Leonid Meteors Ready for a “streaky” meteor shower November 15, 2014

Orionid Meteors Discovering a meteor shower October 18, 2014

Meteor Showers Meteor showers on two planets October 17, 2014

Perseid Meteors Looking for sparks through the moonlight August 9, 2014

Moon, Venus, and Meteors Promise and possibility in the early morning sky May 22, 2014

Surprise Shower? Looking for a new meteor shower May 21, 2014

Eta Aquarid Meteors Naming a meteor shower May 3, 2014

Lyrid Meteor Shower Meteors for all occasions April 19, 2014

Quadrantid Meteors Looking for the parent of a meteor shower January 1, 2014

Geminid Meteors II A bright but temporary meteor shower December 12, 2013

Geminid Meteors Feeding a meteor shower December 11, 2013

Orionid Meteors Moonlight and meteors October 19, 2013

Draconid Meteors Sparks from the celestial dragon October 5, 2013

Moon, Spica, and Meteors A double feature in the night sky August 10, 2013

Eta Aquarid Meteors Sparks from a “wet” constellation May 3, 2013

Comets Icy remnants from the birth of the planets January 1, 2013

Fire and Ice Fire and ice in the sky December 31, 2012

Geminid Meteors Bright accents for a night of skywatching December 11, 2012

Triple Treat A skywatching triple feature November 15, 2012

Orionid Meteors A trail of lights from a messy comet October 19, 2012

Perseid Meteors The perfect spot for the Moon August 10, 2012

Comet Swift-Tuttle A famous comet changes its image July 17, 2012

A Fresh Shower A fresh winter meteor shower February 3, 2012

Quadrantid Meteors The children of a celestial break-up January 2, 2012

Featured Images

leonid meteor, 2009

Meteor Time November 16, 2016
2009 view of Perseid meteors

Rain of Fire August 10, 2016
Illustration of 1833 Leonid meteor storm

Skyfall November 16, 2015
Orionid Meteor Shower

Orionid Meteors October 20, 2012

Geminid Meteors December 13, 2010
Leonid Meteor Shower 2010

Seeing Sparks November 16, 2010