National Meteor Day

So, it’s National Meteor day today, and I have a question for you. Why did the man dump a bowl of ground beef on his head while taking a shower? Because he wanted a meatier shower! You’re welcome.

A meteor is “a small particle from a comet or asteroid.” Meteors can range in size from tiny to particles to as big as 1 meter. Sometimes, meteors give off a sort of trailing glow, which is what we classify as a shooting or falling star. A group of meteors is called a meteor shower (not to be confused with a meatier shower as noted above!).

Fun Meteor Fact: Every year, it is estimated that approximately 15 000 tonnes of meteor particles enter the Earth’s atmosphere. The Boston Globe suggests that between 5-10 times a year a meteor will actually strike the Earth. Earlier in the year Russians experienced this first hand!

Russia isn’t the only area in recent history to have been impacted by a meteor hit! Since 1992, there have been 4 notable hits. Peekskill, New York was hit on October 9, 1992. See the video below, and note the greenish light trailing the meteor(s). In 2009 there were 2 significant meteor events; one in Bone, Indonesia and another in the Southwestern United States. The event in the US was reportedly viewed in multiple areas, including California, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, Idaho, and Colorado. These things are pretty impressive!

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