Ask A Scientist© Astronomy Archive

Name:    Bob
Status:  student
Grade:   4-6

Question:  Where do shooting stars go?  
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Shooting stars are meteors.  Most burn up in the Earth's atmosphere.  The
largest hit the surface of the Earth, called a meteorite, and may form a crater
like the one in Arizona.  Really bright meteors are also called "fireballs." 

Hawley
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Update: July 2008
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Technically speaking, shooting stars are “meteors”. In other words, during the time it is 
visible, it is a meteor. Before it reaches earth it is called a meteoroid. If it does in 
fact reach the earth intact, it is then called a “meteorite”, however very few end in that 
fate, so most are simply “meteors”. Meteors burn up in the atmosphere, as they are typically 
only the size of a grain of sand.

A common misconception is that air friction heats the meteor up, whereas it is actually “ram 
pressure”. That is, air molecules being rapidly compressed directly in front of the meteor 
particle.

But to answer your question, they usually vaporize and uncommonly may land on the ground.

* Plait, Philip (2002), “Top 5 Cosmic Myths” Space.com

P. Bridges
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