What Are Meteors? — Reading Comprehension

The night sky often surprises us with bright, quick streaks of light called meteors. These are sometimes known as shooting stars, but they are not really stars. A meteor happens when a small piece of rock or dust from space, called a meteoroid, enters Earth’s atmosphere.

As the meteoroid travels through the atmosphere, it moves very fast—much faster than a jet airplane. The air in the atmosphere causes the meteoroid to heat up quickly. When it gets very hot, it starts to glow and burn, making a bright light in the sky. This glowing streak is what we see as a meteor.

Most meteors are so small that they burn up completely before reaching the ground. If a piece of the rock does survive and lands on Earth, it is called a meteorite. Scientists study meteorites to learn more about our solar system and how planets formed.

Sometimes, many meteors appear in the sky at once. This is called a meteor shower. Meteor showers happen when Earth passes through a trail of dust and rocks left behind by a comet. During a meteor shower, you can see dozens or even hundreds of meteors in one night!

Meteors can be seen in many places around the world. People often watch meteor showers for fun. Watching for meteors is a way for everyone to connect with space and learn about what is happening far above us.

Interesting Fact: Some meteorites are billions of years old and are older than any rock on Earth!

What is a meteor?

What causes a meteor shower?

What is a meteorite?

Why do meteors glow?

What happens if meteoroid survives atmosphere?

Where do meteors come from?

Meteors are also called shooting stars.

What does 'atmosphere' mean?