G3-SEC-L26-01-26-2023 What Are Meteor Showers and Why Do They Happen

Hello, Grade 3 stargazers! Today, let's unravel the mystery of meteor showers?those dazzling displays of shooting stars that light up the night sky and capture our imagination. Celestial Light Show: Imagine standing outside on a clear night, looking up at the sky, and suddenly witnessing bright streaks of light darting across the darkness. That's a meteor shower?a spectacular celestial light show! Meteoroids and Meteors: So, what exactly are these streaks of light? They're called meteors, and they are created when meteoroids, which are tiny rocks or debris in space, enter Earth's atmosphere. Friction with the air causes them to burn up and create those mesmerizing streaks. Meteor Shower Origins: Meteor showers happen when Earth passes through the debris trail left behind by a comet. Comets are like cosmic snowballs made of ice, dust, and rocks. As Earth moves through this debris, it collides with the tiny particles, creating a meteor shower. Best Meteor Shower Seats: To catch the best view of a meteor shower, find a dark spot away from city lights, lie back, and gaze at the sky. Meteor showers are named after the constellation they appear to originate from. For example, the Perseids seem to come from the Perseus constellation.