why do meteors come back?

Question

So there is an article here
https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/10/09/science/comet-tsuchinshan-atlas-earth

It speaks about a meteor that will be here in October and not return for 80000 years. I’m just wondering, why do meteors come back?

I assume it takes a lot of force to change the trajectory of a meteor, so wouldn’t it move in the same general direction forever and never come back?

In: Planetary Science

Answer 1

A comet is in a long looping orbit around the Sun, when it comes close to the Sun it heats up and bits break off the comet leaving a trail of dust and debris behind, the Earth in its orbit around the Sun occasionally passes through the debris causing a meteor shower to occur.