Meteors & Meteor ShowersMeteors & Meteor Showers

The Differences…The Differences…

Meteoroid, Meteorite, Meteor???Meteoroid, Meteorite, Meteor???MeteoroidMeteoroid- small, solid body moving within - small, solid body moving within

the solar system.the solar system.MeteoriteMeteorite- solid remains of a meteor that - solid remains of a meteor that

falls to the Earth.falls to the Earth.MeteorMeteor- - (shooting star)- bright trail of light (shooting star)- bright trail of light

created by small solid particles entering created by small solid particles entering the Earth’s atmosphere & burning upthe Earth’s atmosphere & burning up

Meteor FactsMeteor Facts Meteors (meteoroids) are the debris associated with comets or Meteors (meteoroids) are the debris associated with comets or

asteroidsasteroids When a meteoroid enters the Earth’s atmosphere & becomes a When a meteoroid enters the Earth’s atmosphere & becomes a

meteor, it is traveling at 60-70 km per second!meteor, it is traveling at 60-70 km per second! On a given night (with favorable conditions), you can see 1 meteor On a given night (with favorable conditions), you can see 1 meteor

every 15 minutesevery 15 minutes The typical size of a meteor that produces a visible streak of light The typical size of a meteor that produces a visible streak of light

ranges from about the size of a grain of sand to the size of a small ranges from about the size of a grain of sand to the size of a small pebble! (average weight is only around 1 gram!)pebble! (average weight is only around 1 gram!)

FireballsFireballs (large, brilliant meteors) are periodically seen (these may (large, brilliant meteors) are periodically seen (these may weigh up to several kilograms or more). weigh up to several kilograms or more). Bolides Bolides are fireballs that are fireballs that explode with a thunderous sound.explode with a thunderous sound.

See for yourself: See for yourself: http://www.spaceweather.com/meteors/images/18nov01/varros1_movie.gifhttp://www.spaceweather.com/meteors/images/18nov01/varros1_movie.gif

(Fireball) (Fireball) http://www.spaceweather.com/meteors/images/18nov01_page3/Ponder1.MPGhttp://www.spaceweather.com/meteors/images/18nov01_page3/Ponder1.MPG

(Bolide) (Bolide)

Why do meteors have a streak of Why do meteors have a streak of light??light??

As they travel through our atmosphere, As they travel through our atmosphere, meteors collide with air molecules that meteors collide with air molecules that knock away materials and strip electrons knock away materials and strip electrons from the meteor…from the meteor…

When the stripped atoms recapture When the stripped atoms recapture electrons, light is emitted…electrons, light is emitted…

The color of the light depends on the The color of the light depends on the temperature and the material being temperature and the material being “excited.”“excited.”

Are all meteors the same color??Are all meteors the same color??

The material or element that makes up a The material or element that makes up a meteor is the main factor that determines meteor is the main factor that determines the color of its glowing trail…the color of its glowing trail…

- Sodium = orange-yellow- Sodium = orange-yellow

- Iron = yellow- Iron = yellow

- Magnesium = blue-green- Magnesium = blue-green

- Calcium = violet- Calcium = violet

- Silicon = red- Silicon = red

Sporadic MeteorsSporadic Meteors

These are the meteors that can be seen These are the meteors that can be seen on any given nighton any given night

They are not associated with any They are not associated with any particular meteor showerparticular meteor shower

They come from random directions in the They come from random directions in the skysky

Meteor ShowersMeteor Showers

Heavy displays of meteors that recur from year Heavy displays of meteors that recur from year to yearto year

Caused by small fragments of comet debris Caused by small fragments of comet debris entering the earth’s atmosphere at extremely entering the earth’s atmosphere at extremely high speeds…when the Earth’s orbit & the high speeds…when the Earth’s orbit & the comet’s orbit intersect at some pointcomet’s orbit intersect at some point

‘‘Shower meteors’ come from the same general Shower meteors’ come from the same general point in the sky…point in the sky…

The The radiantradiant of a shower is the point in the sky of a shower is the point in the sky from which the meteors appear to comefrom which the meteors appear to come

Meteor Showers (cont.)Meteor Showers (cont.)

Meteor showers are usually named for the Meteor showers are usually named for the constellation in which their radiant lies at constellation in which their radiant lies at the peak of the shower…the peak of the shower…

Ex.: Perseid shower = PerseusEx.: Perseid shower = PerseusEx.: Leonid shower = LeoEx.: Leonid shower = LeoEx.: Geminid shower = GeminiEx.: Geminid shower = Gemini

Specific Meteor ShowersSpecific Meteor Showers Meteor showers occur on a regular basis throughout the year, but Meteor showers occur on a regular basis throughout the year, but

not all are visible in the northern latitudes & some are very weak not all are visible in the northern latitudes & some are very weak and easily go unnoticed…and easily go unnoticed…

Some of the more impressive showers throughout a given year are:Some of the more impressive showers throughout a given year are: ShowerShower Avg. PeakAvg. Peak- Quadrantids – early January- Quadrantids – early January- Lyrids – mid April- Lyrids – mid April- Perseids – early/mid August- Perseids – early/mid August- Orionids – mid/late October- Orionids – mid/late October- Leonids – mid November- Leonids – mid November- Geminids – mid December- Geminids – mid December

** Historically, the Perseids in August & the Leonids in November ** Historically, the Perseids in August & the Leonids in November have been the most impressive meteor showers - have been the most impressive meteor showers - http://www.spaceweather.com/meteors/images/18nov01_page3/cordiale1.movhttp://www.spaceweather.com/meteors/images/18nov01_page3/cordiale1.mov

That’s All…That’s All…

3 Questions…3 Questions…

1. True/False: The material or element that makes up a 1. True/False: The material or element that makes up a meteor is the main factor that determines the color of meteor is the main factor that determines the color of the glowing trail left behindthe glowing trail left behind

TrueTrue2. This major meteor shower has a peak time around 2. This major meteor shower has a peak time around

early/mid August:early/mid August:a. Geminidsa. Geminids b. Leonidsb. Leonidsc. Orionidsc. Orionids d. Perseidsd. Perseidsd. Perseidsd. Perseids3. What is the point in the sky from which all of the meteors 3. What is the point in the sky from which all of the meteors

seem to come during a shower called?seem to come during a shower called?RadiantRadiant

References…References…

http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/meteors/showers.htmlhttp://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/meteors/showers.htmlhttp://www.sky-watch.com/meteor.htmlhttp://www.sky-watch.com/meteor.htmlhttp://hometown.aol.com/theleonids/http://hometown.aol.com/theleonids/http://www.geocities.com/~starwanderer/mhttp://www.geocities.com/~starwanderer/m

eteor.htmeteor.htmhttp://www.meteorobs.org/showers.htmlhttp://www.meteorobs.org/showers.htmlhttp://www.amsmeteors.org/showers.htmlhttp://www.amsmeteors.org/showers.html

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