A shooting star isn't actually a star at all. It's a streak of light you see when a tiny piece of space rock or dust burns up as it enters Earth's atmosphere at incredible speed. Scientists call these meteors. Friction with air molecules heats the rock so much that it glows white-hot, creating that characteristic bright trail across the night sky.

Most meteors are surprisingly small, often no bigger than a grain of sand or a pebble. They travel at very high speeds. The flash usually lasts only a second or two before the meteor completely burns away, though larger ones occasionally survive the journey and land as meteorites.

People have watched shooting stars streak across the sky throughout history, often making wishes on them. During a meteor shower, when Earth passes through a trail of space debris, you might see dozens of shooting stars in a single hour. The Perseid meteor shower in August and the Geminid shower in December are particularly spectacular.

If you want to catch shooting stars, find a dark spot away from city lights on a clear night. Let your eyes adjust to the darkness for about 20 minutes, lie back, and watch the sky. With some patience, you may spot several meteors tracing their brief, brilliant paths overhead.