A meteor is a small piece of rock or dust that travels through space and enters the Earth’s atmosphere. When a meteor enters the Earth’s atmosphere, it heats up and begins to glow due to the friction caused by the air. This glowing rock or dust is called a shooting star or a meteor. Meteors are often small, but they can be larger than a car. When a meteor is large enough, it can cause a bright flash of light in the sky and sometimes even create a loud noise. Some people like to watch for meteors at night because they can be very beautiful to see.