I am pretty certain this is a stupendously stupid question...but,

[fleabert]

how come none of the stars in constellations are ever the ones we see falling? Haven't the constellations been mapped and named for a long time? It stands to reason (in my limited astronomical knowledge) that it would happen eventually. How have the Dippers managed to stay intact, yet every night I can see a falling star?

My friend said it is because falling stars are really comets, but am not sure about that.

I know this has the potential of ruining my reputation of being brilliant, but I am really curious and know absolutely nothing about the sky above my head.

[Omphaloskepsis]

1. they are actually meteorites

A star would fuck us up.

edit: they could also be a meteor.

[Robeson]

3. Yeah, what you said.....

...;-)

[fleabert]

5. that far away?

I could swear I remember from 7th grade science class that a falling star is a dying sun far far far far away.

but I admitted that I know nothing, so... I will take your answer. gracias!

[Omphaloskepsis]

10. It is an object burning up as it passes through our atmosphere.

Some hit land. Most don't.

[fleabert]

12. hmm. interesting.

I had the impression that they were dying suns all these years, that eventually, our own sun would be a falling star in some other planet's sky. Amazing what 'knowledge' we take for granted that is completely false. It never occured to me until tonight to question it. thanks again.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

13. When stars die they become....

supernovas or white dwarfs or something like that.

[Bassic]

15. Dying stars don't fall.

We might be able to see them blow the fuck up (going nova or even supernova) and then disappear, but they do not fall. After all, they are the biggest gravity well around them. Unless they are standing on top of a black hole, they're not going anywhere. And if they were standing on top of a black, they'd get sucked in along with all their light, so we'd never know they existed.

[fleabert]

19. see, now that makes total sense. I never thought to question my

understanding of it all. thanks.

[Bassic]

21. My pleasure. nt

[XemaSab]

2. Falling stars are meteors.

Constellations are Suns.

Meteors are just big hunks of rock that burn up in the atmosphere. Not Suns.

[Omphaloskepsis]

4. Is this a joke?

I hope so.

[XemaSab]

11. Nope.

What we call falling stars aren't really stars.

They're just random small meteors and rocks.

[XemaSab]

9. .

[Robeson]

6. Sorry, but you've ruined your reputation. There's no turning back....

...:P

[fleabert]

7. Doh!

[Robeson]

8. Sorry. Couldn't resist....

...:hi:

[xchrom]

14. ever checked out that guys shoes?

[Orsino]

16. Yep. Falling stars are just random bits...

...of rock and maybe ice, leftovers from the formation of the solar system. Like comets, they are perturbed by gravity and can occasionally fall to earth. Stars are much, much bigger (our sun is more than a hundred times the earth's diameter) and farther away (light-years rather than light-seconds, -minutes or -hours), and don't fall to earth.

[fleabert]

18. see, I never thought they (falling stars) fell to earth...

my exceptional Middle American education shaped my view that falling stars were exactly that, stars millions of light years away, that had died out millions of years before and when we saw them 'fall' it was merely them falling into space, millions of light years away, never coming close to our atmosphere. boy was I wrong!

I hope everyone appreciates the cojones it takes to put my ignorance out there! :-)

[Orsino]

24. Bravo to the cojones!

Sus huevos son muy grande.

[bigwillq]

17. I've never seen a falling star!

:( And you see one every night!??? !! :shrug:

[fleabert]

20. Really!?!?!

If I am in an area that gives me an unobstructed view (i.e. no city lights) I see falling stars. I can't think of any time that I have made an effort to look for a falling star that I haven't seen one. Best chance is if you are in a really removed area, like a National Park or the Desert. My parents used to live in the country in Texas, and I saw them anytime I looked at the sky for more than 15 minutes.

[khashka]

22. Hey! Long time no see!

Actually you are not looking at stars. You are seeing meteorites. Bits of rock and ice that are pulled into our gravity well and burn up in our atmosphere. Just the destruction of cosmic trash - but it can be very beautiful and inspiring.


Khash

[fleabert]

23. howdy!

thanks khash, I am blushing every time I think about how stupid my question was, but am happy to have the correct information now. I think I am going to let this thread destruct like so much cosmic trash!
:blush:

good to be back on regularly again- missed everyone bunches. :hug:

[KitchenWitch]

25. I do not have an answer for you, but I wanted to say hi!

:hi:

[DS1]

26. Falling stars are God's way of showing Jack Bauer his appreciation

for killing terrorists.