Meteor Storms: Rare Cosmic Downpours

A meteor storm is an intense outburst when thousands of meteors streak across the sky per hour.
They happen when Earth passes through an especially dense stream of comet debris.
Unlike regular showers, storms can turn the whole sky into a celestial firework show.
The most famous storm was the 1833 Leonids, with an estimated 100,000 meteors per hour.
Meteor storms are unpredictable but often tied to comet returns.
They’re visible without telescopes—just dark skies and patience.
Some storms are brief, lasting only a few hours, making timing crucial.
They have inspired awe and fear throughout history, often interpreted as omens.
Modern astronomy uses orbital models to forecast possible storm years.
Witnessing a meteor storm is a once-in-a-lifetime cosmic spectacle.