Space field note
Streak of light
Shooting Star's Wish
A "shooting star" isn't a star at all, it's a tiny speck of rock or dust burning up as it zips through our sky.
Let's look closer
What is really streaking across the sky?
ittle bits of rock and dust, often left behind by comets as they circle the sun, drift through space until Earth's own orbit carries our planet straight through that trail of debris. When one of these tiny particles enters Earth's atmosphere, it's moving so fast that friction with the air heats it until it glows and burns up completely, usually many miles above the ground. That bright, fast streak of light is what we call a shooting star, or more precisely a meteor, and it's almost always gone before you can even point at it.
Look for this
Explorer clue
On a dark, clear night away from city lights, watch patiently for a few minutes. A shooting star often appears when you least expect it.
Your turn to wonder
Curiosity question
If you caught a glimpse of a shooting star tonight, what quiet wish would you make?
Keep wandering
