What Are Shooting Stars and How Are They Formed?


Known scientifically as meteors, shooting stars are an astronomical phenomenon that occurs when small particles of dust and rock from interplanetary space enter the Earth's atmosphere. These particles burn up due to friction with the air as they fall at high speed, creating a bright trail of light in the sky that can be seen from Earth. When in a large group, these shooting stars form what we call a meteor shower. There are several meteor showers at different times of the year, such as the Perseids.
In this thedailyECO article, we ask what are shooting stars and how are they formed? We also explain the best way to see them if you want to experience this beautiful celestial phenomenon for yourself.
What are shooting stars?
Shooting stars are luminous phenomena formed by meteoroids,. These meteoroids are small celestial bodies in outer space, usually made of rock or metal. They are found in space due to the passage of comets or debris through the Earth's atmosphere.
The particles that cause shooting stars come primarily from disintegrated comets and asteroids. As these celestial objects travel through space, they release tiny particles that are scattered in their orbital path. As Earth passes through these orbits, the particles enter the atmosphere at extremely high speeds, often exceeding 70 kilometers per second. As the particles encounter the air in the atmosphere, they are rapidly compressed and heated due to friction, causing them to glow brightly and create the luminous effect we see as a shooting star.
The technical term for this phenomenon is a meteor, which referring to the process of the particle's entry and burning in the atmosphere. If the meteor is bright enough to be visible from Earth, it is commonly called a shooting star. Although common usage, it is important to know this is a misnomer since meteors are not actually stars. They get this name because they appear to glow like a star when viewed from Earth's surface.
Shooting stars can vary in size and brightness, from fleeting flashes to longer and brighter streaks that can last several seconds. Suring special events such as meteor showers, it is often possible to see multiple shooting stars in a single night.
Meteor showers are a spectacular phenomena. These occur when the Earth passes through a dense cloud of particles left behind by a comet or asteroid. This results in a greater number of shooting stars visible over a relatively short period. Famous examples of meteor showers include the Perseids in August and the Geminids in December.
How are shooting stars formed?
Now we know what are meteors, we can discover how shooting stars form:
- We can say that shooting stars begin to form in outer space, where comets and asteroids travel along in their orbits around the Sun.
- As these celestial objects approach the Sun on their orbital path, they are affected by solar radiation and heat. This exposure to the Sun's heat causes dust particles and small rock fragments to be released from the surface of the comet or asteroid.
- These particles are scattered along the orbit of the celestial object and become what we call meteoroids.
- Our planet Earth passes through this orbit full of residual particles (meteoroids) from comets and asteroids and these enter the atmosphere and combust in the heat. When this happens, they create a glow so intense that we can see it from Earth and we call it a shooting star.
You can discover more about another type of phenomena which affects Earth from outer space with our article asking what are solar winds?

Differences between meteoroid, meteor and meteorite
Since they are closely related, it is common for us to become confused over the differences between meteoroids, meteors and meteorites:
- Meteoroid: a meteoroid is the first stage of the shooting star formation process. It is a relatively small mass of dust or rock that travels through space. These can range in size from grains of sand to larger fragments. Meteoroids are the projectiles that enter the Earth's atmosphere and cause the phenomena of shooting stars. While in space, they are called meteoroids.
- Meteor: this term refers to the visible phenomenon that occurs when a meteoroid enters the Earth's atmosphere and moves at high speed, creating a bright trail of light due to friction with the air. This is the light we commonly call a shooting star. In short, a meteor is the luminous part we see in the sky when a meteoroid is vaporizing due to the heat generated by friction.
- Meteorite: if a meteoroid survives its passage through the atmosphere and reaches the Earth's surface, it is called a meteorite. In other words, a meteorite is a fragment of the original meteoroid that has impacted the Earth. These fragments can range in size from small particles to large rocks. Meteorites can provide valuable information about the composition of asteroids and comets, as well as the formation and evolution of the solar system.
Types of meteor showers
A meteor shower is a spectacle in which there is a significant increase in the number of shooting stars visible in the sky compared to a typical night. These showers occur when the Earth passes through a region of space where there is a denser concentration of meteoroids.
Meteor showers are periodic events that occur at specific times of the year. Each meteor shower has its own name based on the nearby constellation where it appears to originate. Some of the most well-known meteor showers are:
- Perseids: the Perseids are one of the most famous meteor showers and occur in August. It is located in the constellation of Perseus. Discover more about Perseids with our article asking what are the Tears of St. Lawrence?
- Geminids: the Geminids occur in December and have their radiant in the constellation Gemini.
- Quadrantids: the Quadrantids occur in January and have their radiant near the ancient constellation Quadrans Muralis.
- Leonids: the Leonids occur in November and have their radiant in the constellation Leo.
These meteor showers occur at different times of year due to the Earth's orbit around the Sun, since they reapproach the meteors once our orbit returns to its previous position. Discover what are the layers of the Sun in our related guide.

How to see shooting stars
For all those who want to see shooting stars, we provide some tips to help increase your chances:
- Look for dark places away from light pollution: shooting stars are most visible in places with little or no light pollution. Look for areas away from city lights to get a clearer view of the sky. This is the same approach if you want to see celestial phenomena such as the Northern Lights.
- Look at the right dates: research the dates when meteor showers are expected to occur.
- Arrive early: if you want to see a meteor shower at its peak, arrive early to give your eyes time to adjust to the darkness.
- Bring blankets and chairs: bringing a blanket and folding chairs can make your experience more comfortable. You can lay back and relax while enjoying the show.
- Avoid light from electronic devices: light from cell phones and other electronic devices can affect your dark adaptation and reduce the visibility of shooting stars.
Now that you know what are shooting stars and how they are formed, you may want to know more about what we can see in the night sky with our article explaining what is a celestial body?
If you want to read similar articles to What Are Shooting Stars and How Are They Formed?, we recommend you visit our Facts about Earth and the universe category.