A meteor is a small piece of rock or metal from space that enters the Earth's atmosphere. When it travels at high speeds, the friction with the air causes it to heat up and glow, creating a bright streak of light in the sky. This glowing phenomenon is often referred to as a "shooting star," even though it is not a star at all. If a meteor survives its journey through the atmosphere and lands on the Earth's surface, it is called a meteorite. Many people enjoy watching meteor showers, which occur when Earth passes through a trail of debris left by a comet, leading to numerous meteors appearing in the night sky.