It's in Arizona, and it's huge. The rim rises 150 feet from the surrounding plain, and the hole is 600 feet deep and nearly a mile wide. It was the first crater that was proved to be caused by a meteorite impact, which occurred between 20,000 and 50,000 years ago. Meteor showers When a comet nears the sun, a trail of dust and other debris burns off and remains in solar orbit. As Earth orbits the sun, it passes through this debris field spread across its path.
Small bits burn up in the atmosphere, creating meteors.
Meteors come from other sources, too, but comet debris streams are the source of sometimes dramatic meteor showers. When to watch The part of Earth where dawn is breaking is always at the leading edge of our planet's plunge along its orbital path around the Sun. For that reason, the hours between midnight and dawn are typically the best time to watch a meteor shower.