meteor shower

noun

, Astronomy.

1. the profusion of meteors observed when the earth passes through a meteor swarm.

meteor shower

noun

1. a transient rain of meteors, such as the Perseids, occurring at regular intervals and coming from a particular region in the sky. It is caused by the earth passing through a large number of meteoroids (a meteor swarm )

meteor shower

1. A brief period of heightened meteor activity, often occurring regularly in a particular part of the sky at a particular time of year. Meteor showers are generally named after the constellation in which they appear to originate; thus the Perseids appear to originate in the constellation Perseus and the Leonids in the constellation Leo. The showers occur when the Earth passes through a region having a greater than usual concentration of interplanetary debris, such as particles left by a disintegrating comet, at certain points in its orbit. Although the meteors enter the Earth's atmosphere on parallel trajectories, perspective makes it appear as if they originate from the same point in the sky, known as the radiant.

Word History and Origins

Origin of meteor shower¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

The best meteor shower of the year may be the Perseids, named that way since they appear to originate from the constellation Perseus in the sky.

From Popular-Science

Most meteor showers occur when Earth slams into debris left behind by a comet.

From Science News

Astronomers later matched most major meteor showers with one comet or another.

From Science News

Astronomers first linked a meteor shower to a comet in 1866.

From Science News

If there’s a clear sky on Sunday, December 13, odds are good for spotting the spectacular meteor shower known as the Geminids.

From Science News

Such a display is called a meteor shower, and the point a is called its radiant.

From Project Gutenberg

Good Lord, they must have headed right into a meteor shower.

From Project Gutenberg