Скачать или смотреть Nature | Meteors: Shooting Stars and Celestial Fireworks

Nature | Meteors: Shooting #stars and Celestial #fireworks

Meteors - #shorts - are celestial objects that enter the Earth's atmosphere from outer space and burn up upon entry, creating a bright streak of light in the sky commonly known as a "shooting star" or meteor. Meteors are typically small solid particles, usually no larger than a pebble, that originate from comets or asteroids.

When a meteor enters the Earth's atmosphere, it travels at an extremely high speed, often exceeding 70 kilometers per second (156,000 miles per hour). The high speed causes the meteor to compress the air in front of it, creating intense heat through the process of friction. This heat causes the meteor to glow brightly, creating the streak of light that we see as a shooting star.

Most meteors burn up completely in the Earth's atmosphere and never reach the ground. However, if a meteor is large enough and manages to survive the intense heat and pressure of entry, it may reach the Earth's surface and is then called a meteorite.

Meteors are commonly observed during meteor showers, which occur when the Earth passes through a stream of debris left behind by a comet or asteroid. Some well-known meteor showers include the Perseids, Leonids, and Geminids, which occur annually and provide spectacular displays of shooting stars in the night sky. Meteors are fascinating objects that have captivated human curiosity for centuries and continue to be a subject of scientific research to understand more about the origins and composition of these celestial bodies.