Rare Eclipse and Meteor Shower Seen Over Algeria's Sky
Listen to the story
People in Algeria looked up at the sky this week. They saw a solar eclipse. A solar eclipse happens when the moon moves in front of the sun. People in many parts of Algeria watched this event.
At the same time, there was a meteor shower called the Perseids. A meteor shower is many small rocks that burn in the sky. They look like fast lines of light. People call them "shooting stars."
This was a rare astronomical event. Astronomical means it is about stars, planets, and space. Many people in Algeria wanted to see it. They used special glasses to look at the sun safely.
In Spain, the eclipse was different. There, people saw a total eclipse. This means the moon covered the whole sun. The sky went dark for 59 seconds. This happened above a big church called a cathedral in the city of Ciudad Rodrigo.
Scientists say events like this do not happen often. People enjoy watching them with family and friends.
Vocabulary15 words
- solar eclipse
- when the moon covers the sun
- meteor shower
- many small rocks burning in the sky
- Perseids
- a famous group of shooting stars
- astronomical
- about stars and space
- total eclipse
- when the moon covers the whole sun
- cathedral
- a very big church
- shooting stars
- another name for meteors
- sky
- the space above the earth
- moon
- the round object that goes around the earth
- sun
- the star that gives us light
- rare
- not happening often
- event
- something that happens
- dark
- with no light
- safely
- without danger
- glasses
- things you wear on your eyes
Quiz
Answer key
1. A solar eclipse and a meteor shower 2. Many small rocks burning in the sky 3. 59 seconds
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
People in Algeria looked up at the _____ this week.
They saw a _____ eclipse.
A solar eclipse happens when the _____ moves in front of the sun.
At the same time, there was a meteor _____ called the Perseids.
People call them "_____ stars."
This was a rare _____ event.
People used special _____ to look at the sun safely.
In Spain, people saw a _____ eclipse.
The sky went dark for 59 _____.
This happened above a big church called a _____.