Fireballs

Meteorites often burn up in Earth’s atmosphere, but a fireball over Canada last year may shake up our understanding of the solar system. Scientists traced its origins back to a distant cloud of comets that wasn’t thought to host any rocky material.

Early August always brings with it the promise of a spectacular show in the form of the Perseid meteor shower. But this year a NASA study shows the Perseids display more fireballs than any other shower.