What Is a Shooting Star? Lesson 140

Have you ever seen a shooting star? These bright flashes of light across the night sky may have “star” in their name, but they are not a star at all! Unlock the mysteries of meteors and discover how God made us with curious minds to discover and marvel at all he’s made—both on Earth and in space!

Here’s our trail map:

• What Is a Comet?
• What Is a Shooting Star?
• How Is a Meteor Different From a Meteorite?
• Why Does God Place Mysteries in Nature?

This lesson’s Activity Guide is free for everyone! Download it here: https://thenaturaltheologyproject.com/what-is-a-shooting-star/

Related Lessons to listen to next:

• How Hot Is the Sun? Lesson 112: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/a8b48d2c-aa2c-46d9-a224-3c34a07fc1ff/
• Why Does the Moon Change Shape? Lesson 139: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/c94554ef-f476-4802-b897-6bebe66eceeb/
• What Is Earth's Atmosphere For?: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/be61b270-5a47-4fd0-ae15-d140867738aa/

Eryn's Books:

• Where Wonder Leads: An Adventure in God's Wild and Wonderful World: https://thenaturaltheologyproject.com/wonder
• Made to Marvel: 52 Family Devotions Exploring the Wild Wonders of God's Creation: https://thenaturaltheologyproject.com/marvel
• The Nature of Rest: What the Bible and Creation Teach Us About Sabbath Living: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Rest-Creation-Sabbath-Living/dp/0825448891
• Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Wonder-Nurturing-Familys-Creation/dp/0825447615
• 936 Pennies: Discovering the Joy of Intentional Parenting: https://www.amazon.com/936-Pennies-Discovering-Intentional-Parenting/dp/0764219782

Episode Links:

• Exploring Creation with Astronomy: https://www.apologia.com/shop/astronomy-course-set
• Save 25% during Apologia’s sitewide summer sale through August 31, 2026: https://www.apologia.com/
• Homeschool simply, inexpensively, and enjoyably with the Homeschool Made Simple podcast: homeschoolmadesimple.net
• “Nature Study Made Simple” with Eryn Lynum on the Homeschool Made Simple podcast: https://homeschoolmadesimple.net/nature-study-made-simple-episode-252/
• Nat Theo Club Bonus Video: https://thenaturaltheologyproject.com/member
• Get full lesson guides in the Nat Theo Club: https://thenaturaltheologyproject.com/club
• This lesson’s Activity Guide is free for everyone! Download it here: https://thenaturaltheologyproject.com/what-is-a-shooting-star/
• Ask your nature question: https://thenaturaltheologyproject.com/ask

Scriptures Referenced in This Episode:

“By wisdom the Lord founded the earth;

by understanding he created the heavens.” Proverbs 3:19 (NLT)

“God is honored for what he keeps secret.

Kings are honored for what they can discover.” Proverbs 25:2 (NCV)

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV)

Terms Learned in This Episode:

• Comet: A natural object in space made from rock, dust, and ice.
• Aphelion: The point in an object’s orbit when it is farthest from the Sun.
• Perihelion: The point in an object’s orbit when it is closest to the Sun.
• Sublimation: When a solid changes straight into a gas without becoming a liquid first.
• Coma: A bright cloud of dust and gas surrounding and trailing after a comet’s center.
• Earth’s Atmosphere: The layer of gasses that protects Earth from the sun’s harsh rays and from debris in space.
• Sporadic Meteor: A random meteor that does not belong to a known meteor shower.
• Meteor Shower: When many meteors appear in the sky around the same time as Earth travels through a comet’s dusty path.
• Meteorite: A piece of space rock or metal that survives the trip through Earth’s atmosphere and lands on the ground.
• Ablate: To wear away or burn away from the surface.

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