Here's why:

* Meteors are small particles of dust and rock that enter the Earth's atmosphere at high speeds.

* The mesosphere is the layer of the atmosphere above the stratosphere and below the thermosphere.

* The mesosphere is where most meteors burn up. The air in the mesosphere is dense enough to cause friction, which heats the meteor to the point of incandescence. This creates the bright streak of light we see as a meteor.

While a meteor may enter the Earth's atmosphere from space, it is the mesosphere where it becomes visible.