Book 8, Question 102
Why Are Meteor Showers Named After Constellations?
Meteor showers are named after constellations because their streaks seem to come from that part of the sky! If you trace the streaks backward, they all appear to start from one spot. The constellation sitting there lends its name to the shower!
More fun facts
- During a meteor shower, streaks can appear anywhere in the sky, but their tails all point back to the same spot.
- That spot is called the radiant, and the shower is named after the constellation it lies in.
- The Perseid meteor shower, every August, seems to come from the constellation Perseus, a hero from Greek myths.
- The Orionids, every October, seem to come from near Orion the Hunter.
- For the best view, go somewhere dark, away from city lights, and wait for the shower's constellation to rise high.
Sources: NASA Space Place, National Geographic, NASA Science
Questions kids ask
What is a meteor shower's radiant?
It is the spot in the sky the meteors seem to come from.