Meteor Showers

Here's a very cool, energetic rock song that will hopefully help to get your students interested in meteor showers. Ever heard of an Orionid? What about a Perseid? Meteor showers are named after the constellations from which they seem to come. So Orionids seem to come from the constellation Orion, and Perseids from the constellation Perseus. The best way to observe a meteor shower is to get away from the lights of the city, away from all light pollution. Let your eyes adjust to the darkness, and bring binoculars. You can use a reclining chair, or just lie on the ground so you can look up without strain. And dress appropriately – it can get cold!

It's important to note that this a science-related song so it's cross curricular! Be sure to let your school's science teacher know you're performing it, or better yet, coordinate this topic so students can be learning about meteor showers in science class at the same time they are learning this song.

Meteor Factoids

• Named meteor showers recur at approximately the same dates each year.
• As of September 2021 there are 112 established meteor showers. (Source: IAU Meteor Data Center)
• A meteor not associated with a named meteor shower is called a sporadic meteor.

(Note: This song includes a Diving Deeper Into The Music learning assessment PDF.)