SOLAR SYSTEM

Detailed explanation-1: -When meteoroids enter Earth’s atmosphere (or that of another planet, like Mars) at high speed and burn up, the fireballs or “shooting stars” are called meteors. When a meteoroid survives a trip through the atmosphere and hits the ground, it’s called a meteorite.

Detailed explanation-2: -If Earth’s orbit happens to intersect the orbit of such a young cluster of meteoroids, a spectacular meteor shower can result.

Detailed explanation-3: -Meteor showers occur when the earth in its orbit around the Sun passes through debris left over from the disintegration of comets. Although the earth’s orbit around the Sun is almost circular, most comets travel in orbits that are highly elongated ellipses.

Detailed explanation-4: -A meteor shower happens when Earth passes through the path of a comet. When this happens, the bits of comet debris, most no larger than a grain of sand, create streaks of light in the night sky as they burn up in Earth’s atmosphere. Bits of debris which enter Earth’s atmosphere are called meteors.