Why is it that you can only see a shooting star like every 10 or so years? Why not every year?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed,

Not only can you see shooting stars (meteors) every year, but also every day if sky conditions are right. Most meteors can be seen in the few hour period before sunrise. Meteors are particles leftover from the passage of a comet or asteroid in orbit around the sun, that collide with earth's atmosphere as the earth passes through this belt of particles that in turn burn up through the intense heat generated by the high speed collision. While on a typical night you might only see a few meteors, there are certain times of the year when you might see 50 to sometimes 500 meteors per hour or so, particulary during the Perseid meteor showers in August, and most especialy in the Leonids showers of November, each and every year.

Thanks Gerry for the answer!

Click Here for a calendar of known meteor showers.

Click Here for another meteor shower calendar.

Click Here for tips on viewing meteors.

Cool sites...thanks John