NASA - Meteor Shower

Meteor showers

The earth meets a number of streams (trails) or swarms (clusters) of tiny meteoroids at certain times every year. At such times, the sky seems filled with a shower of sparks. Streams and swarms have orbits like those of comets and are believed to be fragments of comets. The most brilliant meteor shower known took place on Nov. 12-13, 1833. It was one of the Leonid showers, which occur every November and seem to come from the direction of the constellation Leo.

Next info at www.nasa.gov/worldbook/meteor_worldbook.html