Fireballs, Snowballs, & The Quadrantids

Part 1 of the Mini-Series: “Space, Our Favorite Frontier” (non-consecutive episodes)

In honor of this month’s annual meteor shower, The Quadrantids, Josh and Kara explore some of Earth’s smaller and numerous neighbors: asteroids and comets. Learn what and where these Near Earth Objects (NEOs) are and how they turn into shooting stars! Finally, discover how an unofficial constellation named Earth’s annual December-January meteor shower: The Quadrantids.

Discussion:

  • Meteoroids vs Meteors vs Meteorites

  • Asteroids

  • Comets

  • Meteor Showers

  • The Quadrantids Meteor Shower

©️Wolf & Stag Productions LLC, 2025

Images:

References:

  • International Astronomical Union. (2006). RESOLUTION B5 Definition of a Planet in the Solar System . 

  • International Astronomical Union. (2006). RESOLUTION B6 Pluto 

  • NASA. (n.d.). Planetary defense - dart - NASA science. NASA. https://science.nasa.gov/planetary-defense-dart/

  • NASA. (n.d.). What is a Lagrange point? - NASA science. NASA. https://science.nasa.gov/resource/what-is-a-lagrange-point/ 

  • The International Astronomical Union Minor Planet Center. Minor Planet Names: Alphabetical List. (n.d.). https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/lists/MPNames.html#d 

  • Quadrans muralis. Quadrans Muralis. (n.d.). https://web.pa.msu.edu/people/horvatin/Astronomy_Facts/obsolete_pages/quadrans_muralis.htm 

  • NASA. (n.d.-a). Quadrantids - NASA Science. NASA. https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/meteors-meteorites/quadrantids/ 

  • Meteor shower calendar. American Meteor Society. (n.d.). https://www.amsmeteors.org/meteor-showers/meteor-shower-calendar/ 

  • EarthSky, E. of. (2025, January 2). 2025 quadrantid meteor shower to peak January 3. https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-quadrantid-meteor-shower/ 

  • NASA. (n.d.-a). Fireballs. NASA. https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/fireballs/intro.html 

  • TA3. (n.d.-a). https://www.ta3.sk/IAUC22DB/MDC2007/Roje/roje_lista.php?corobic_roje=1&sort_roje=0 

  • Tobias.vecker@sprylab.com. (2023, August 29). What causes a meteor shower?. BBC Sky at Night Magazine. https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/space-science/what-causes-meteor-shower 

  • NASA. (n.d.-a). Asteroids: Facts - NASA science. NASA. https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/asteroids/facts/ 

  • NASA. (2021, June 30). Asteroid or Meteor: What’s the difference? NASA. https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/asteroid-or-meteor/en/ 

  • NASA. (2018, July 25). What is a meteor shower?. NASA. https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/meteor-shower/en/ 

  • Meteoroid size classification. (n.d.). https://www.spaceacademy.net.au/watch/debris/mdsclass.htm 

  • NASA. (n.d.-d). Vesta - NASA Science. NASA. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/dawn/science/vesta/ 

  • Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.). Why is pluto no longer a planet?. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/story/why-is-pluto-no-longer-a-planet 

  • NASA. (n.d.-c). NASA’s wise finds Earth’s first trojan asteroid. NASA. https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-wise-finds-earths-first-trojan-asteroid/ 

  • NASA. (n.d.-c). Kuiper belt - NASA science. NASA. https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/kuiper-belt/ 

  • NASA. (n.d.-b). Comets: FACTS - NASA science. NASA. https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/comets/facts/ 

  • NASA. (n.d.-a). 1P/Halley - NASA Science. NASA. https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/comets/1p-halley/ 

  • NASA. (n.d.-d). Discovery statistics. NASA. https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/stats/totals.html 

  • NASA. (2023, October 25). Five years after the Chelyabinsk meteor: NASA leads efforts in planetary defense. NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/solar-system/five-years-after-the-chelyabinsk-meteor-nasa-leads-efforts-in-planetary-defense/ 

  • NASA. (n.d.-g). Meteors and meteorites: Facts - NASA science. NASA. https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/meteors-meteorites/facts/

Previous
Previous

Episode 9: Zodiac Astrology

Next
Next

Episode 7: Saturnalia