So then part falls to the ground as a solid stone, or as a lump of iron and other metals. We call the fallen lump an “aerolite” or a “meteorite,” or a “meteoric stone.” But it is commonly just a meteor which has come to us out of the sky. Some very large aerolites have been known to burst in the air with a great noise, and to scatter hot stones over the land below. This sort of thing happens very seldom. There are wonderful Rings of Meteors journeying round the Sun--enormous companies of millions upon millions of little dark cold bodies, lighted up by the Sun’s rays. Every August and November our Earth in her journeying touches one such Ring. In those months a great many more “shooting stars” may be seen in the sky than at other times of the year. So, when you want to see shooting stars, remember that the best times are August and November. If then you watch the sky steadily after dark for half an hour you will hardly fail to see at least two or three. About once in every thirty-three years our Earth plunges into the very thick of one of these Meteor-Rings. And then indeed we may have a splendid sight! Tens of thousands of meteors can be seen flashing through the air, each with its little train of light behind. Fast as they appear and vanish tens of thousands more follow; and for hours this goes on. Yet even then the number of meteors which can be seen is as nothing compared with the vast hosts which cannot be seen because they do not come into our air. Sometimes comets and meteor-rings are found together, journeying in company. That is to say, the comet journeys with the meteors, in the same ring or pathway round the Sun. This really seems to show that the one may belong to the other. I have told you already that comets, or at least comets’ heads, are believed to be made partly of little meteors. If things are so, one would not be surprised to find a very close tie between comets and rings of meteors. You will remember Biela’s Comet, spoken of in the last chapter, which some people think has actually broken up into separate meteors. It is thought very likely that the wonderful Rings of Saturn are entirely made of meteors. Not of bright dying meteors, as we see them in our air, but of countless millions of tiny hard bodies, all whirling together round and round the huge planet, and giving forth such light as they can borrow from the Sun. Sometimes on the Earth a faint light is seen, of a sugar-loaf shape, in the eastern sky, before dawn, or in the western sky after sunset. It is called the Zodiacal Light, and it plainly has to do with the Sun. It is always seen very near to the Sun, never anywhere else. We know little about this curious light, but it too _may_ be caused by the shining of enormous numbers of meteors, all whirling round the Sun. No doubt countless multitudes are ever dropping down upon his fiery surface.