Watching the Perseids meteor shower in Britain in 2015.
"All year long as Earth revolves around the sun, it passes through streams of cosmic debris. The resulting meteor showers — like the Leonids that are peaking around Friday, Nov. 16 — can light up night skies from dusk to dawn, and if you’re lucky you might be able to catch one. If you spot a meteor shower, what you’re really seeing is the leftovers of icy comets crashing into Earth’s atmosphere. Comets are sort of like dirty snowballs: As they travel through the solar system, they leave behind a dusty trail of rocks and ice that lingers in space long after they leave. When Earth passes through these cascades of comet waste, the bits of debris — which can be as small as grains of sand — pierce the sky at such speeds that they burst, creating a celestial fireworks display. ..."
NY Times
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