Monday: Science
What phenomenon is responsible for the appearance of "shooting stars"?
"Shooting stars" are meteoroids entering Earth's atmosphere at high speeds.
"Shooting stars" are not stars at all; they are meteoroids entering Earth's atmosphere at high speeds.
As these small pieces of space debris, often remnants of comets or asteroids, encounter the atmosphere, they burn up due to intense friction, creating bright streaks of light visible in the night sky. This phenomenon is called a meteor.
If any part of the meteoroid survives the journey and reaches Earth's surface, it is then classified as a meteorite. Shooting stars are a common yet awe-inspiring celestial event that often captivates stargazers worldwide.
What about the other answers?
Auroras caused by solar winds: Auroras produce colorful displays in the sky but are unrelated to the streaking effect of "shooting stars."
Stars colliding in space: This occurs far away from Earth and is not visible as "shooting stars."
Comets passing close to Earth: While comets are responsible for some meteoroid debris, they are not the direct cause of "shooting stars."
