Howardites

A printable worksheet for the lesson Shooting stars (Start here: Beginner). It prints on A4 without the website around it. The answers are on a separate sheet for the teacher.

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Start here: Beginner · Ages 7 and upHowardites worksheet

Shooting stars

Name:Class:Date:

Key words

Meteor
A meteor is the streak of light you see when a meteoroid burns up in Earth's air.
Fireball
A fireball is an extra-bright meteor, brighter than the planet Venus.
Comet
An icy, dusty object from the outer Solar System that grows a glowing head and tail when it comes near the Sun.
Constellation
A constellation is a named pattern of stars and the region of sky around it; meteor showers are named after them.
Perseids
The Perseids are a popular summer meteor shower each August, made by dust from Comet Swift–Tuttle.
Geminids
The Geminids are a rich meteor shower each December, produced by debris from the asteroid Phaethon.

Choose the right answer

Circle the letter of the right answer.

  1. About how high up do meteors happen?
    • AOut beyond the Moon
    • BJust above the treetops
    • CAbout 80 to 120 kilometres up
    • DAbout as high as the clouds
  2. Why is the Perseid shower named after Perseus?
    • AIts meteors seem to come from that patch of sky
    • BIt only happens in the month of Perseus
    • CA man called Perseus discovered the shower
    • DIts comet is shaped just like Perseus
  3. Why are some meteors called sporadic meteors?
    • AThey always turn into fireballs
    • BThey only happen in summer
    • CThey all come in one big group
    • DThey turn up at random on any night
  4. How do people catch fireballs, which are rare?
    • ACameras watch the sky every night
    • BThey wait on rooftops with nets
    • CThey listen for them on the radio
    • DThey use a giant magnet

True or false?

Is the answer given right? Tick True or False.

  1. How big are the meteoroids that make most meteors?

    Answer given: No bigger than a grain of sand TrueFalse

  2. A fireball can be brighter than which planet?

    Answer given: Venus TrueFalse

Write your answer

Answer in a word or a short sentence.

  1. What usually makes a fireball instead of an ordinary meteor?
  2. Why can meteors look yellow, orange, green or blue?

Task

On a clear night, with an adult, go somewhere dark, lie back on a blanket and watch the sky for 20 minutes. Count how many meteors you see. Wrap up warm, even in summer!

Howardites · free to copy for use in your classroom · answers are on the separate teacher's answer sheet