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If, like Perry Como, you want to catch a falling star and put it in your pocket, you might want to learn a few things about it first!
A falling star, also known as a star, is actually not a star at all! It is more accurately defined as a that enters the Earth's at a very high speed, becoming a in the process. If it doesn't burn up during its trip, then we call it a . This last type can be dangerous because it falls into the planet as a rock, and it may hit the ground or something/someone on it! Falling stars are different from , which are rocks in space that orbit the .
When a falling star is on its way, it produces a very pretty streak of when you look up to the sky. Another way of looking at it is that falling stars are a trail of that rapidly comes into our planet. A great way to see falling stars is to find out when like the Quadrantids, Eta Aquariids, and Orionids will occur. They happen almost every month!
Even though you will not be able to literally "catch" a falling star, you might be lucky enough to collect some of the remaining debris and put THAT in your pocket! Then you can save it for a rainy day!
Watching a falling star or a shooting star is a breathtaking way to experience the magic that lies beyond our planet. At the most basic level, falling stars are nothing but rocks from space that burn as they fall into the Earth's atmosphere. That process of burning while falling at a very high speed is what creates that marvelous streak of bright light that we see in the night sky.
The rocks that initially fall from space are called meteoroids, which turn into meteors as they fall and burn. While they usually burn completely as they travel, any part that does not burn and ends up falling to the Earth's surface is called a meteorite. Sometimes these can be dangerous because they may fall in an uncertain place, such as a densely populated location or a busy street. For example, in 2013, a superbolide also known as the Chelyabinsk meteor fell into Russian land, causing over 1000 injuries and damaging thousands of buildings. Some stunning videos were even captured by people who were in their cars as the meteor fell!
Every year, there are many meteor showers that allow us to witness many of these falling stars at the same time. Due to changes in atmospheric conditions and the state of the moon at any particular time, the rate of meteors per hour can vary from shower to shower. So if you happen to be close to somewhere you can stargaze, don't miss the chance!
My thanks to NASA and the U.S. National Park Service for providing the information that was the base for this quiz. To close, here is the opening verse of Perry Como's "Catch a Falling Star", the song whose title inspired this quiz:
"Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket
Never let it fade away
Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket
Save it for a rainy day"
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor looney_tunes before going online.
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