2006-07-24 20:13:46 · 15 answers · asked by bluefish 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
No, in that they're just two different names ascribed to the same phenomenom, a piece of space rock falling through our atmosphere.
Yes, in that you'd call it a shooting star if you saw it travelling mostly level with your horizon, or a falling star if you saw it travelling down through the sky towards the horizon.
2006-07-24 20:17:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
No, there's no difference. Both are words that some people use to describe a meteor. That's a bit of space dust or rock that enters Earth's atmosphere and leaves a streak of bright light due to friction with the air. Before it was known exactly what was going on, people called meteors "falling stars" or "shooting stars" because that's what they look like.
Here's some more terminology for you --
'meteoroid' ---- a relatively small piece of stone drifting in space
'meteor' ---- a meteoroid that's entered Earth's atmosphere
'meteorite' ---- a meteor that's fallen all the way to Earth's surface
2006-07-24 20:29:32 · answer #2 · answered by Chug-a-Lug 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's the same. Used to call meteor's descending to earth's atmosphere.
The only rational I could think is that when it enters sideways we see it traveling through the air at very high speeds - shooting star. But if it enters the earths atmosphere straight from above (90 degrees to equator) we don't actually see the speed - hence a falling star.
2006-07-24 20:38:40 · answer #3 · answered by R G 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no much difference that they are meteors but they headed different ways which has two names. Shooting star is the meteor pass by to other way, falling star is the meteor headed to the earth's horizon.
2006-07-25 01:42:32 · answer #4 · answered by Eve W 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no there is no difference between a shooting star and a falling star because they mean meteors but with different names
2006-07-24 23:56:37 · answer #5 · answered by lisa francis 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i dont think that there is a "falling star" but i think shooting stars are like comets
2006-07-24 20:20:29 · answer #6 · answered by bigboi 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No there is not. They are both popular names for meteors that enter earth's atmosphere.
2006-07-24 22:26:33 · answer #7 · answered by Sporadic 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. They are just two different terms for meteors.
2006-07-24 21:16:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they mean the same. its a meteor that enters the earth's atmosphere. in which case, it's called a meteoroid
2006-07-24 20:19:15 · answer #9 · answered by vanessamld 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no difference. Just fancy way of saying meteor.
2006-07-24 20:29:22 · answer #10 · answered by star2_watch 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋