Meteor showers are undeniably beautiful.
Meteor showers are undeniably beautiful.

But they’re also unpredictable -- you could stand outside all evening waiting for one
But they’re also unpredictable -- you could stand outside all evening waiting for one

and not see anything.
and not see anything.

So, wouldn’t it be cool if you could be absolutely sure you were gonna see one?
So, wouldn’t it be cool if you could be absolutely sure you were gonna see one?

Well, a Japanese startup wants to offer meteor showers on demand -- just like a fireworks
Well, a Japanese startup wants to offer meteor showers on demand -- just like a fireworks

show.
show.

All they need to pull it off is a tiny satellite, a secret chemical mixture, and a rocket to
All they need to pull it off is a tiny satellite, a secret chemical mixture, and a rocket to

get it all up into space.
get it all up into space.

And this venture could also help scientists study a part of our atmosphere that we still
And this venture could also help scientists study a part of our atmosphere that we still

don’t know too much about.
don’t know too much about.

The Japanese company ALE, headed by astronomer Lena Okajima, is developing a technology to
The Japanese company ALE, headed by astronomer Lena Okajima, is developing a technology to

offer artificial meteor showers wherever and whenever you want.
offer artificial meteor showers wherever and whenever you want.

A natural meteor -- or a shooting star -- is just a bit of space dust burning up in the
A natural meteor -- or a shooting star -- is just a bit of space dust burning up in the

atmosphere.
atmosphere.

So, theoretically, it shouldn’t be that hard to create artificial ones.
So, theoretically, it shouldn’t be that hard to create artificial ones.

Here’s the plan: They want to launch a small cube-like satellite -- about 50 centimeters
Here’s the plan: They want to launch a small cube-like satellite -- about 50 centimeters

across -- packed with tiny chemical pellets.
across -- packed with tiny chemical pellets.

The satellite would reach an altitude of 400 or 500 kilometers, then launch these pellets
The satellite would reach an altitude of 400 or 500 kilometers, then launch these pellets

in the opposite direction of its orbit so they would slow down and start falling to
in the opposite direction of its orbit so they would slow down and start falling to

Earth.
Earth.

Once they reached an altitude of about 60 kilometers, they’d burn up just like natural
Once they reached an altitude of about 60 kilometers, they’d burn up just like natural

meteors.
meteors.

The thing is, the chemical composition of the pellets is proprietary, so we have to
The thing is, the chemical composition of the pellets is proprietary, so we have to

take the company’s word for it that this’ll work.
take the company’s word for it that this’ll work.

But they’ve done some ground-level testing, and say that their artificial meteors will
But they’ve done some ground-level testing, and say that their artificial meteors will

burn bright enough for earthbound spectators to see them.
burn bright enough for earthbound spectators to see them.

Plus, they say they can tweak the chemical formula to make the meteors any color they
Plus, they say they can tweak the chemical formula to make the meteors any color they

want.
want.

So… rainbow meteor shower, anyone?
So… rainbow meteor shower, anyone?

Besides creating spectacles, the team also hopes this technology will fill a scientific
Besides creating spectacles, the team also hopes this technology will fill a scientific

need.
need.

The layer of the atmosphere where the pellets will burn up is part of Earth’s mesosphere.
The layer of the atmosphere where the pellets will burn up is part of Earth’s mesosphere.

The mesosphere is sensitive to small chemical changes, like the addition of greenhouse gases,
The mesosphere is sensitive to small chemical changes, like the addition of greenhouse gases,

so studying its dynamics and composition could tell us more about how the atmosphere and
so studying its dynamics and composition could tell us more about how the atmosphere and

climate are changing.
climate are changing.

We can study lower parts of the atmosphere using balloons, and higher parts using rockets
We can study lower parts of the atmosphere using balloons, and higher parts using rockets

and spacecraft.
and spacecraft.

But that 60-kilometer sweet spot is hard to reach with scientific instruments, so we don’t
But that 60-kilometer sweet spot is hard to reach with scientific instruments, so we don’t

know that much about it.
know that much about it.

So scientists have been focusing on the meteors that burn up there, to observe the mesosphere:
So scientists have been focusing on the meteors that burn up there, to observe the mesosphere:

They use radar -- which uses radio waves -- and lidar -- which uses laser light -- to detect
They use radar -- which uses radio waves -- and lidar -- which uses laser light -- to detect

meteor trails, the electrons and ions that a meteor leaves behind as it burns up.
meteor trails, the electrons and ions that a meteor leaves behind as it burns up.

Monitoring the trails of natural meteors can provide information like how fast the wind
Monitoring the trails of natural meteors can provide information like how fast the wind

is moving, the temperature of the nearby atmosphere, and more.
is moving, the temperature of the nearby atmosphere, and more.

But that’s only if scientists detect them in the first place, by having the right equipment
But that’s only if scientists detect them in the first place, by having the right equipment

pointed in the right direction, at the right time.
pointed in the right direction, at the right time.

With artificial meteor showers, though, there would be less guesswork.
With artificial meteor showers, though, there would be less guesswork.

Scientists would know when and where a lot of meteors will fall at once, so they’d
Scientists would know when and where a lot of meteors will fall at once, so they’d

probably be able to get better measurements, which means a better picture of how the mesosphere
probably be able to get better measurements, which means a better picture of how the mesosphere

is moving and changing.
is moving and changing.

Also, the light a meteor gives off can provide data about its chemical composition.
Also, the light a meteor gives off can provide data about its chemical composition.

So, presumably, ALE would have to share information with scientists about what exactly is in their
So, presumably, ALE would have to share information with scientists about what exactly is in their

chemical pellets.
chemical pellets.

And, by comparing the light spectrum of a natural meteor to one of those artificial
And, by comparing the light spectrum of a natural meteor to one of those artificial

ones -- which has a known composition -- scientists may learn more about what natural meteoroids
ones -- which has a known composition -- scientists may learn more about what natural meteoroids

are made of... and what kinds of atoms they’re bringing into the atmosphere when they burn
are made of... and what kinds of atoms they’re bringing into the atmosphere when they burn

up.
up.

So the startup says it hopes their technology will help atmospheric scientists, but in the
So the startup says it hopes their technology will help atmospheric scientists, but in the

end, they mostly just want to put on a show.
end, they mostly just want to put on a show.

And these celestial light shows won’t come cheap.
And these celestial light shows won’t come cheap.

The projected cost is around 8,100 US dollars … per meteor.
The projected cost is around 8,100 US dollars … per meteor.

And you can’t really skimp on meteors to make a good meteor shower.
And you can’t really skimp on meteors to make a good meteor shower.

So expect to see these shows at huge public events… or, like, Tony Stark’s birthday
So expect to see these shows at huge public events… or, like, Tony Stark’s birthday

party.
party.

In fact, the company hopes to debut this technology at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony.
In fact, the company hopes to debut this technology at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony.

And who knows?
And who knows?

Someday plain ol’ fireworks may become a thing of the past, and instead, we could mark
Someday plain ol’ fireworks may become a thing of the past, and instead, we could mark

our celebrations with custom meteor showers.
our celebrations with custom meteor showers.

Thanks for watching this episode of SciShow Space, and thanks especially to our patrons
Thanks for watching this episode of SciShow Space, and thanks especially to our patrons

on Patreon who help make this show possible.
on Patreon who help make this show possible.

If you want to help us keep making episodes like this, just go to patreon.com/scishow
If you want to help us keep making episodes like this, just go to patreon.com/scishow

to learn more.
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And don’t forget to go to youtube.com/scishowspace and subscribe!
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