Meteor train
A meteor train is the glowing trail left behind after a meteor has passed, lasting from a fraction of a second to many minutes.
A meteor train is the glow that lingers along a meteor's path after the meteor itself has gone. Most last less than a second, a quick afterglow called a wake. Brighter, faster meteors can leave trains lasting several seconds. The longest, called persistent trains, can be seen for minutes and slowly twist in the high-altitude winds.
Short trains glow because atoms of the meteoroid and the air are still excited and give off light, especially from sodium and oxygen, as they cool. Persistent trains are powered by chemical reactions in the trail, especially involving oxygen and metal atoms, which keep releasing energy for a long time.
Trains are most common in fast showers such as the Perseids, Leonids and Orionids. If you see a long-lasting train, try to note how long it lasted and how it changed shape. Binoculars can show its twisting structure more clearly.
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Level: Explorer Ages 10 and up