A meteor is a bright streak of light that occurs when a meteoroid—a small rock or particle from space—enters the Earth’s atmosphere and burns up due to friction with the air. This process creates a visible flash, often referred to as a “shooting star.”

If a meteoroid survives its passage through the atmosphere and lands on the Earth’s surface, it is then called a meteorite. Meteors can vary in brightness and size, and during meteor showers, numerous meteors can be seen in a short period, typically caused by the Earth passing through the debris left by a comet.