No, shooting stars do not explode in the night sky. Shooting stars are actually meteors, which are small pieces of rock or metal that enter the Earth's atmosphere from space. As they enter the atmosphere, the friction with the air causes them to heat up and glow, creating a streak of light in the sky. Because they slow down and cool down quickly, shooting stars do not usually explode. However, meteors do occasionally explode in the atmosphere, creating a bright flash of light and a loud sound. These explosions are called bolides or fireballs.