Streaks of light you often see traversing the night sky are commonly referred to as shooting stars. But are they actually stars? This article delves into the science behind meteors, the true source of these celestial spectacles.

Meteor showers, a spectacle of shooting stars gracing our night skies, have long been shrouded in mystery and folklore. However, it's time to separate fact from fiction and understand the science behind these celestial displays.

Firstly, let's clear up a common misconception: shooting stars are not associated with good luck or causing fortune. They are simply bright streaks of light caused by burning meteoroids in Earth's atmosphere. Meteors, not stars, are what we witness during a meteor shower.

Meteoroids, small solid objects typically less than 100km above Earth's surface, enter our atmosphere at high speeds. Upon entry, they brush against gaseous molecules, causing friction that heats the object and causes it to glow against the night sky. This trail of light is what we see as a shooting star.

However, meteors are not random objects going off into space. They are fragments of rock or dust that enter Earth's atmosphere from the debris left by a comet (and sometimes an asteroid). Meteor showers occur when Earth's orbit takes it through this cosmic debris field.

The number of shooting stars visible during a meteor shower is described by the 'zenithal hourly rate'. This rate can vary greatly, with some showers like the Perseids potentially having a rate of 25 shooting stars visible per hour from a suburban location, while others may offer much less.

The Meteoritical Society, an organisation dedicated to promoting international research of meteorites and meteorite falls, plays a crucial role in our understanding of these celestial events.

Some of the biggest and most spectacular meteor showers include the Quadrantids, Perseids, Orionids, Leonids, Geminids, and Perseids. So, if you're planning to catch a glimpse of these cosmic wonders, the best time is during an annual meteor shower.

It's also worth noting that stars, unlike meteors, are enormous blobs of burning gas that are a long, long way away. The nearest star to Earth is our own Sun, which lies a little over 150 million kilometers away. After the Sun, Proxima Centauri, a red dwarf star, is the next nearest, which is about 40 trillion kilometers from Earth.

So, the next time you catch a shooting star, remember it's not a magical portent or a piece of good luck, but rather a beautiful reminder of the vastness of the universe we inhabit. There is no scientific basis for the existence of 'luck'. Instead, let the beauty of the cosmos inspire awe and wonder.

Happy star gazing!