Meteor showers occur because Earth passes through the path of a. another planet. b. a planetesimal. c. a comet. d. the Moon.

Comets are fascinating celestial objects made of ice, dust, and rocky material. They originate from distant regions of our solar system such as the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud. When comets travel close to the Sun, the heat causes their ice to vaporize, creating a glowing coma and sometimes a tail that can extend millions of kilometers. This tail is composed of gas and debris.
As comets move through the solar system, they leave behind a trail of debris. Some of this debris intersects with Earth's orbit around the Sun. When Earth encounters this debris field, particles enter our atmosphere and vaporize, creating the beautiful phenomenon known as meteor showers.

Celestial debris includes small particles from comets, asteroids, and other celestial bodies that orbit the Sun. When comets shed material due to solar heat, they contribute to the collection of debris in space.
Another source of celestial debris is the collision of asteroids or the remnants of larger spacecraft. This material can remain in the solar system for extended periods and can be encountered by Earth. When Earth's orbit passes through these debris fields, the particles enter our atmosphere, causing the meteors we see streaking across the night sky during a meteor shower.

Earth's atmosphere is crucial in the spectacle of meteor showers. This layer of gases surrounds our planet, protecting us from harmful solar radiation and the vacuum of space. When meteoric particles enter Earth's atmosphere, they travel at high speeds, often exceeding 20 kilometers per second.
The intense friction between the particles and atmospheric gases causes them to heat up and vaporize, resulting in bright streaks of light. Most of these particles burn up completely, never reaching the ground. However, larger fragments might survive and land as meteorites.
Earth's atmosphere plays a pivotal role in transforming small celestial debris into the breathtaking meteor showers we enjoy.