Once upon a time there was a little girl named Nikki. She loved to look at the stars at night. She liked to imagine that there are other worlds out there, full of wonders and adventures. One night, she saw a bright streak of light across the sky. She asked her father, “What is that, Papa?”
Her father replied, “That is a shooting star, Nikki. It is actually a piece of rock or metal that comes from outer space and falls to the Earth.”
Nikki was amazed. She asked, “Where does it come from, Papa?”
Her father replied, “Well, there are many places where it can come from. Sometimes, it comes from a big ball of ice and dust that travels around the sun. We call that a comet. Sometimes, it comes from a small planet that orbits the sun between Mars and Jupiter. We call that an asteroid. And sometimes, it comes from the moon or even another planet like Mars.”
Nikki was curious. She asked, “How do they get here, Papa?”
Her father replied, “They get here because something makes them change their path in space. Maybe they get too close to the sun or another planet and get pulled by their gravity. Maybe they collide with another object and break into smaller pieces. Maybe they just wander around until they cross the Earth’s path.”
Nikki was fascinated. She asked, “What happens when they get here, Papa?”
Her father replied, “When they get here, they have to go through the air that surrounds the Earth. We call that the atmosphere. The atmosphere is like a big blanket that protects us from the cold and harmful rays of the sun. But it also makes it hard for the shooting stars to get through. They have to go very fast and face a lot of friction and pressure from the air. This makes them heat up and glow like fire. That is why we see them as bright streaks of light.”
Nikki was excited. She asked, “Can we catch them, Papa?”
Her father replied, “Sometimes we can, Nikki. If they are big enough and strong enough to survive the atmosphere, they can reach the ground and become meteorites. Meteorites are very rare and valuable because they tell us about the history of our solar system and other worlds. Scientists love to study them and learn from them.”
Nikki was eager. She asked, “Can we find them, Papa?”
Her father replied, “Maybe we can, Nikki. But we have to be very lucky and careful. Meteorites are usually very small and hard to find. They can also be very hot or cold when they land. And sometimes they can make big holes in the ground called craters if they hit very hard.”
Nikki was hopeful. She said, “I want to find one, Papa.”
Her father said, “Maybe you will someday, Nikki. But for now, let’s just enjoy watching the shooting stars and make a wish.”
Short stories for kids 