Muness
METEORS & Asteriods
What is a meteor?
Meteors are fragments of galactic debris from comets or asteroids. As they streak into Earth’s atmosphere, they “burn up,” creating distinctive trails of heated gas called plasma.
While we call them shooting stars, they are actually tiny pieces of space history being destroyed in a flash of light. If a fragment survives the fall and hits the ground, it becomes a meteorite.
A meteor shower occurs when Earth passes through a cloud of dusty comet debris. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Perseids (peaking August 11–12) offer one of our best displays.
Did you know?
How to catch a shooting star
Our helpful guide will show you where, when, and how to spot a shooting star.
Shooting Star Guide
- In Unst, you are already in a dark-sky place, perfect for spotting a meteor.
- Consult a meteor shower calendar for the most likely times of the year to catch a meteor shower.
- Check the weather and dress appropriately. You’ll want a clear night, but not a full moon!
- Take a chair or a blanket to lie on.
- Make sure it is dark (just after midnight is normally the best time).
- Turn off your phone and car headlights.
- Get used to looking into the darkness and let your eyes adjust. (This might take up to 20mins!).
- Be patient. Very patient. Sit or lie back and enjoy the darkness around you, but keep your eyes on the skies… Enjoy the show, good luck!
Peak times for showers
The Perseids meteor shower is one of the brightest and best displays here in the Northern Hemisphere.
It is visible every year between 17 July and 24 August, peaking around 11-12 August.
Perseids are named after the constellation Perseus. Why? Perseus is their ‘radiant’ – the point in the sky that all their meteor tails appear to point back to.
Another good show is the Leonids, which peak around 17-18 November.
Leonids are related to (you’ve guessed it) the constellation Leo (the Lion), where its meteors seem to come from or point to.
Unst's connection to Space
What are Asteroids
Asteroids are small rocks which orbit the Sun and are sometimes known as minor planets.
These are leftover pieces of rock from when the Solar System formed about 4.6 billion years ago. NASA describe asteroids as ‘ancient space rubble’.
Most asteroids can be found within the main Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Did you know
There is an asteroid named Unst? Discovered in 2007, its official name is ‘394445 Unst’.
Unst into orbit!
Unst has another connection with space. SaxaVord Spaceport at Lambaness is the UK’s first fully-licensed vertical launch centre.
Featured Video
The Asteroid that came to Unst
Watch our fun film about the asteroid that came to Unst!
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