Mystery Solved Planetary Science

Why you can hear and see meteors at the same time

Radio waves may explain the mysterious phenomenon

meteor shower

OTHERWORLDLY SOUNDS  Falling meteors can be seen and heard at the same time because of sounds generated by radio waves blasted from the falling space rocks, researchers propose.

SRIPFOTO/ISTOCKPHOTO

By Thomas Sumner

- More than 2 years ago

For centuries, skywatchers have reported seeing and simultaneously hearing meteors whizzing overhead, which doesn’t make sense given that light travels roughly 800,000 times as fast as sound.