A meteor is the brilliant streak of light we see when a small piece of space rock, called a meteoroid, plunges into Earth's atmosphere at incredible speeds of 25,000-160,000 mph (11-72 km/s). As the meteoroid encounters our thick atmosphere at altitudes of 50-80 miles (80-120 km), friction with air molecules causes it to heat up to over 3,000°F (1,650°C), creating the glowing "shooting star" we observe from the ground.</p><p>Most meteors are surprisingly tiny – often no larger than grains of sand or pebbles – yet they produce spectacular light shows lasting just seconds. The famous Perseid meteor shower in August can produce up to 100 meteors per hour, while the Geminids in December are known for their bright, colorful streaks. On any clear night, you can typically spot 5-10 sporadic meteors per hour.</p><p>Ancient civilizations often interpreted meteors as omens or messages from gods, but we now understand they're remnants from comets and asteroids. When Earth passes through the dusty trail left by a comet's orbit, we experience predictable meteor showers named after their apparent origin constellations. These cosmic visitors provide valuable insights into the early solar system's composition, making every "shooting star" a 4.6-billion-year-old messenger from space.