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

The Solar System: Minor Bodies: Meteorites To the people of L'Aigle, France, it must have...
The Solar System: Inner Planets: Earth We know our world as an abode for life. Earth is...
Constellation Guide: Aquarius Thanks to its position in the zodiac, not to...

Radio Programs

Quadrantid Meteors The children of a celestial break-up Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Geminid Meteors Bad timing for a good meteor shower Monday, December 12, 2011
Leonid Meteors A faint but steady meteor shower Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Orionid Meteor Shower Calling cards of a distant comet Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Draconid Meteors The sparks of a fire-breathing dragon Friday, October 7, 2011
Perseid Meteors Drowning out a fading shower Friday, August 12, 2011
Quadrantid Meteors Tracers of a bygone constellation Sunday, January 2, 2011
Geminid Meteors The meteoric fate of a meteor parent Monday, December 13, 2010
Leonid Meteors Enjoying an astronomical light show Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Moon, Planets, and Meteors Moon, planets, and meteors Thursday, August 12, 2010
Perseid Meteors Lighting up the late-night sky Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Lyrid Meteors Faint flickers of firelight Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Moon, Mars, and Meteors Good news and bad news for skywatchers Saturday, January 2, 2010
More Geminid Meteors A dark and showery night Sunday, December 13, 2009
Geminid Meteors Flashing lights for holiday skies Friday, December 11, 2009
More Leonid Meteors A good night for a meteor shower Monday, November 16, 2009
Leonid Meteors Dodging some celestial BBs Sunday, November 15, 2009
Orionid Meteors A lightshow from Halley's Comet Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Featured Images

Geminid Meteors Monday, December 13, 2010
Leonid Meteor Shower 2010
Seeing Sparks Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Geminid Meteors Saturday, December 12, 2009
Leonid Meteors Sunday, November 15, 2009

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