Episode guide
Shooting Stars: Wishes on Ancient Dust
A shooting star is a grain of ancient dust, ending a journey of millions of years in one bright second over your house. This episode follows it all the way down.
The science, gently
- Most meteors are smaller than a pea; their tremendous speed is what makes the light.
- The streak is air glowing as the grain squeezes it, dozens of miles above your roof.
- On a clear dark night, patient eyes can catch several an hour, and more during meteor showers.
Wonder together
- What do you think that grain of dust passed on its long trip?
- Why do we save wishes for the sky's smallest visitors?
- What would you wish, if one crossed the window right now?
Tonight's calm-down
Make your out-breath a slow streak of light across a dark sky: brief, bright, finished. Each one carries a little of the day away. The sky has room for all of it.