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Sciences > Astronomy Undertanding meteor showers: The Pleiades, the Perseid and more

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Sometimes the still of the night sky is broken by the firy streak of a shooting star. Those lucky enough to catch a glimpse will often 'make a wish', as popular legend holds that to see one will make your wish come true. These 'wishing stars' are actually meteorites falling to earth from outer space, and a meteor shower occurs when dozens, hundreds, or even thousands fall to earth one after another. To understand where this beautiful light show originates, one must look into the deep recesses of our solar system...

The phenomena begins with meteoroids. These are smaller than asteroids, t...

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