Meteors (or shooting stars) are very different from comets, although the two can be related. A Comet is a ball of ice and dirt, orbiting the Sun (usually millions of miles from Earth). ... A Meteor on the other hand, is a grain of dust or rock (see where this is going) that burns up as it enters the Earth's atmosphere.

Is Shooting star a meteor or comet?

Comet: A body of ice, rock and dust that can be several miles in diameter and orbits the sun. ... It originates from a comet or asteroid. Meteor: A meteoroid that enters the earth's atmosphere and vaporizes. Also called a “shooting star.”

Do shooting stars come from comets?

Meteor showers occur when dust or particles from asteroids or comets enter Earth's atmosphere at very high speed. When they hit the atmosphere, meteors rub against air particles and create friction, heating the meteors. The heat vaporizes most meteors, creating what we call shooting stars.