_Laurie_ Posted February 19, 2006 Report Share Posted February 19, 2006 (edited) A "falling star" or a "shooting star" has nothing at all to do with a star! These amazing streaks of light you can sometimes see in the night sky are caused by tiny bits of dust and rock called meteoroids falling into the Earth's atmosphere and burning up. The short-lived trail of light the burning meteoroid produces is called a meteor. Meteors are commonly called falling stars or shooting stars. If any part of the meteoroid survives burning up and actually hits the Earth, that remaining bit is then called a meteorite. At certain times of year, you are likely to see a great number of meteors in the night sky. These events are called meteor showers and they occur when the Earth passes through the trail of debris left by a comet as it orbits the Sun. These showers are given names based on the constellation present in the sky from which they appear to originate. For example, the Leonid Meteor Shower, or Leonids, appear to originate in the constellation Leo. It is important to understand that the meteoroids (and therefore the meteors) do not really originate from the constellations or any of the stars in the constellations, however. They just seem to come from that part of the sky because of the way the Earth encounters the particles moving in the path of the comet's orbit. Associating the shower name with the region of the sky they seem to come from just helps astronomers know where to look! The dust and rocks that cause meteor showers come primarily from the Earth passing through the debris stream left behind by a comet as it orbits the Sun. Usually, the Earth's orbit and the comet's orbit are slightly tilted relative to one another. So the paths only intersect on one side! Annual Meteor Showers Name When They Occur Quadrantids January 1-6 April Lyrids April 19-24 Eta Aquarids May 1-8 Delta Aquarids July 15- August 15 Perseids July 25 - August 18 Orionids October 16-27 Taurids October 20-November 30 Leonids November 15-20 Geminids December 7-15 Note that one of the best meteor showers, the Perseids, happens in August. "Peak time" is when you are likely to see the largest number of meteors per hour. It occurs in the middle of August can be quite spectacular to see! BAD COMPANY lyrics - "Shooting Star" www.OldieLyrics.com Johnny was a schoolboy when he heard his first Beatle song, 'Love me do,' I think it was. From there it didn't take him long. Got himself a guitar, used to play every night, Now he's in a rock 'n' roll outfit, And everything's all right, don't you know? Johnny told his mama, hey, 'Mama, I'm goin' away. I'm gonna hit the big time, gonna be a big star someday', Yeah. Mama came to the door with a teardrop in her eye. Johnny said, 'Don't cry, mama, smile and wave good-bye'. Don't you know, yeah yeah, Don't you know that you are a shooting star, Don't you know, don't you know. Don't you know that you are a shooting star, And all the world will love you just as long, As long as you are. Johnny made a record, Went straight up to number one, Suddenly everyone loved to hear him sing the song. Watching the world go by, surprising it goes so fast. Johnny looked around him and said, 'Well, I made the big time at last'. Don't you know, don't you know, Don't you know that you are a shooting star, Don't you know, oh, yeah, Don't you know that you are a shooting star, yeah, And all the world will love you just as long, As long as you are, a shooting star. Don't you know that you are a shooting star, Don't you know, yeah, Don't you know that you are a shooting star, now, And all the world will love you just as long, As long you are you. Johnny died one night, died in his bed, Bottle of whiskey, sleeping tablets by his head. Johnny's life passed him by like a warm summer day, If you listen to the wind you can still hear him play Oh oh oh, Don't you know that you are a shooting star, Don't you know, yeah, don't you know', Don't you know that you are a shooting star, Don't you know, yeah, Don't you know that you are a shooting star, Don't you, don't you, don't you, don't you, Don't you know, don't you know, oh, yeah, you are, Yeah, a shooting star, yeah, oh oh oh oh oh...... Don't you, don't you know that you are a shooting star, Don't you don't you know...... songfacts Wow, I just realized songfacts has info on this song...I requested it awhile ago, and just noticed it's on there!...I always thought this was about one certain person...but the facts explain otherwise... Edited February 19, 2006 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Laurie_ Posted February 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2006 There will be a quiz on this tomorrow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earth-Angel Posted February 19, 2006 Report Share Posted February 19, 2006 ^ Pop quiz!! Shooting stars are so pretty, but you have to spend a lot of time waiting to see one. When you do though, you have to make a wish! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Laurie_ Posted February 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2006 EA last summer I got up at 3 am to see the meteor shower that was suppose to happen, and I saw maybe 2, that's all...I was expecting the whole sky to be lit up...like you see in the pictures...oh well, maybe this summer or fall! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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