Meteors can range in size from tiny particles to large boulders. They are often pieces of comets or asteroids that have broken off. When these objects enter Earth's atmosphere, they can travel at speeds of up to tens of kilometers per second.
As a meteor enters the atmosphere, it is heated by friction with the air molecules. This causes the meteor to glow and it can become very bright, sometimes even brighter than Venus. The streak of light that we see is actually the glowing trail of hot air and particles that the meteor leaves behind.
Most meteors are completely vaporized in the atmosphere. However, some larger meteors may make it to the ground. These are called _meteorites._ Meteorites can provide valuable information about the history of the solar system and the composition of other planets and asteroids.
Fun fact: The term "shooting star" is actually a misnomer. Stars do not move across the sky in the same way that meteors do. Meteors are also sometimes called _falling stars_ or _fireballs._
Here are some additional facts about shooting stars:
* Shooting stars can be seen from any location on Earth.
* The best time to see shooting stars is during a meteor shower. A meteor shower occurs when Earth passes through a stream of debris left behind by a comet or asteroid.
* The most famous meteor shower is the Perseid meteor shower, which occurs every year around August 12.
* Shooting stars can travel at speeds of up to 72 kilometers per second.
* The largest meteor ever recorded was the Hoba meteorite, which was found in Namibia. The Hoba meteorite weighs about 60 tons.
