Science Secrets · Drawing 22 of 40
A Shooting Star Is Not a Star
Space
This bright streak comes from a small object entering the atmosphere very fast. It heats strongly and produces light. This is a meteor, often called a shooting star.
Did you know?
A meteorite is a piece that reaches the ground.
Look together
How does this streak differ from the stars in the drawing?
An idea to try
Draw a sky with a few stars and a meteor. Explain why they are different things.
For the adult reading along
A little more to discover
A meteoroid is the object before atmospheric entry; a meteor is the light phenomenon. Most small objects break apart before reaching the ground.
Sources and illustration notes (1)
Simplified scene and shapes. Models, imagined comparisons and enlargements do not preserve all real measurements.
These links lead to other websites. Explore them with an adult. References identify the institution and the related lesson; some linked pages are in French.
- NASA Science: Meteors and MeteoritesThis bright streak comes from a small object entering the atmosphere very fast. It heats strongly and produces light. This is a meteor, often called a shooting star.
Source review: 2026-10-12. Illustrations are simplified for colouring.
