Meteors, also known as shooting stars, are visible from Earth because they are small particles, such as rocks or debris, that enter Earth’s atmosphere at high speeds. As these particles travel through the atmosphere, they collide with air molecules, creating friction and intense heat, which causes them to vaporize or burn up.
The visible streak of light that we see is the glowing trail left behind by the meteoroid as it burns up in the atmosphere. This trail is called a “meteor trail” or “meteor train.” The glowing effect is caused by the intense heat generated by the friction between the meteoroid and the air molecules in the atmosphere. The light emitted by the meteoroid can be seen from the ground, even from great distances, because it is so bright.
The size of the meteoroid determines the brightness and duration of the meteor. Smaller meteoroids burn up quickly, producing a brief flash of light, while larger ones can create a brighter and longer-lasting meteor.
Meteors are most commonly seen during meteor showers, which occur when Earth passes through a stream of debris left behind by a comet or asteroid. During a meteor shower, many meteors can be seen in a short amount of time, making them a popular astronomical event for skywatchers.

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