What occurs during a meteor shower?

During a meteor shower, the Earth passes through the debris left behind by a comet. As comets orbit the Sun, they shed particles of ice, dust, and rock. When these particles enter the Earth's atmosphere at high speeds, they burn up due to friction with the air, creating bright streaks of light known as meteors. This phenomenon is particularly prominent during certain times of the year when Earth’s orbit intersects with the trails of debris left by specific comets, leading to a concentrated display of meteors.

The other choices describe different astronomical phenomena. Solar flares relate to the Sun's activity rather than meteor showers. A collision between a planet and a comet is not responsible for meteor showers; instead, meteor showers are caused by the scattered debris of comets. Likewise, the Moon moving into Earth's shadow refers to a lunar eclipse, which is a separate event that involves the alignment of the Earth, Moon, and Sun, rather than the interaction of Earth with cometary debris.