2007-08-17 02:11:46 · 12 answers · asked by avagrace14 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
That something (meteorite, space debris) has entered the atmosphere and incinerated by friction.
2007-08-17 02:17:03 · answer #1 · answered by Kimon 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Actually, a shooting star is a metor that has been catapulted across space, by some force, hitting the atmosphere. when the meator hits the atmosphere the colision makes the bight colorful stray of light.
Shooting stars actually arent that rare. Millions happen everyday! Just most happen duriing the daytime, or arent that powerful so you can see them.
Although to popular belieif, A shooting star is not a comet. comets are a combonation of ice rock dust and fire, and pass much slower than shooting stars. You can see a comet for several minuets, while shooting stars are a 'Blip' or flash of light, which lasts only a few seconds. Comets are also more of a big deal too. Even though there are more comets than scienteists can count, there still arent as many comets as shootings stars.
ANother difference is that Comets have nothing to do with the atmosphere. As noted before, shooting stars are metors burning up in the atmosphere. Comets are burnig objects catapolting through space, from a distance, or outside the atmosphere.
THe meteor showers reach their peak in early august, and are better seen after midnight. If you live in the central united states you have lucked out, because on the coasts there may be more precipataion that can cloud up the sky.
Happy Star gazing!!!
2007-08-17 02:32:44 · answer #2 · answered by Polly 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's not a comet. Comets are farther away, and won't go by nearly as fast. A 'shooting star' in the popular conception of the word is usually caused by something (mostly meteors) that pass through the atmosphere and burn up in the process. Almost all meteors burn up completely in the atmosphere, but if they were really huge to begin with, sometimes, they can even hit the earth.
2007-08-17 02:20:38 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It means whatever you want it to mean.
It is just a meteoroid that has entered the atmosphere at high speed at which time it becomes heated due to atmospheric friction and begins to burn up. At this point it is called a meteor. If there is anything left over that makes it to the ground without burning up, it is known at a meteorite.
2007-08-17 03:31:00 · answer #4 · answered by daver201 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means you were lucky to be looking at the right place and the right time as a little bit of rock hit the air at a fast speed and burnt up.
2007-08-17 05:13:25 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I means, that if you hadn't been looking in that spot in the sky at that particular instant, that 'shooting star' might never have been known to exist... and you saw it , just as it ceased to exist!!....
2007-08-17 02:43:09 · answer #6 · answered by meanolmaw 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means that you exist in a very strange and wonderful universe with lots of interesting and beautiful phenomena to observe.
2007-08-17 02:40:14 · answer #7 · answered by J C 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is not called shooting star , it is called comet . If I see a comet I will note it in my science book or I will make a wish .
2007-08-17 02:50:12 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
It means some dumbbell celebrity got drunk and decided to take out his gun and go on a rampage.
2007-08-17 02:49:57 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Make a wish!!!!
2007-08-17 02:19:00 · answer #10 · answered by asldfkjdfj 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋