2006-10-18 09:51:10 · 14 answers · asked by Ashlyn M 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
A shooting star is not actually a star. It is just a piece of interstellar debree, like a meteor, which is passing close enough to the Earth to be seen. They usually end up burning up in the sun or the Earth's atmosphere, if they are that close.
2006-10-18 09:54:16 · answer #1 · answered by pdigoe 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A "falling star" or a "shooting star" has nothing at all to do with a star! These amazing streaks of light you can sometimes see in the night sky are caused by tiny bits of dust and rock called meteoroids falling into the Earth's atmosphere and burning up. The short-lived trail of light the burning meteoroid produces is called a meteor. Meteors are commonly called falling stars or shooting stars. If any part of the meteoroid survives burning up and actually hits the Earth, that remaining bit is then called a meteorite.
A few interesting facts for you.....
The Satellite Situation Report from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Dated September, 1997, the report counts almost 25,000 man-made objects: 8681 currently in orbit, and over 16,000 objects in a state of decay. Not every single satellite is included, since some are too small or too far away from home to be detected.
2006-10-18 16:57:13 · answer #2 · answered by virtualrealitys 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A shooting star can enter the earth's atmosphere, and then becomes brightly visible due to heat produced by ram pressure. More info at this link below:
2006-10-18 16:53:54 · answer #3 · answered by Kristen H 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's a star that shoots across the sky. Next!!
2006-10-18 16:52:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Shooting stars are meteor showers that hit the atmosphere.
2006-10-18 16:58:27 · answer #5 · answered by xiorcalm 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a piece of matter that enters our Earth's Atmosphere, because it is traveling so fast the friction air molecules causes it to burn up, and gives appearance of light in the sky. Read somewhere that most are no bigger than a baseball.
2006-10-18 17:06:02 · answer #6 · answered by Mister2-15-2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It Orbits Around The Moon Til It's Not Looking Then It Bust A Cap In The Moons ***....
2006-10-18 16:53:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
IT WOULD DEPEND UPON WHICH STAR. WHO?
WHO IS THE STAR SHOOTING AT THE TIME IN QUESTION? : )
"STAR" STAR? EVAPORATE? OR, FALL TO EARTH?
OR "META" INTO A METEOR.... ORBITING... OR OR ?
2006-10-18 16:54:09 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
its a rock hitting the earths atmosphere and burning up
2006-10-18 16:53:20 · answer #9 · answered by JOEY 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is cosmic debris entering our atmosphere at such a speed that it is molten and bright.
2006-10-18 16:52:41 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋