0:00:03 > 0:00:06Jonathan, you're a hard worker.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09A real wizard with a vacuum cleaner.
0:00:09 > 0:00:13- But can I really trust you to hit your targets?- Aah!
0:00:13 > 0:00:14- You there!- Ah!
0:00:14 > 0:00:17You seem to know about science and things,
0:00:17 > 0:00:22but I'm looking for someone who can really fly.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25I'm just not sure you're that person.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28And then there's you, McCork.
0:00:28 > 0:00:32Erratic, unpredictable, perhaps even a genius.
0:00:32 > 0:00:33A genius!
0:00:33 > 0:00:36So I've come to my decision.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38Professor McCork,
0:00:38 > 0:00:40you are going to be fired!
0:00:40 > 0:00:43Fired? Really?
0:00:43 > 0:00:44Aw, no.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46- Oh, crumpets! - BELL RINGS
0:00:46 > 0:00:47Positions, everybody!
0:00:47 > 0:00:49This is...
0:00:50 > 0:00:52With...
0:00:56 > 0:00:58..the floor manager!
0:01:01 > 0:01:03Stand by!
0:01:03 > 0:01:05Come on, everybody!
0:01:08 > 0:01:09BOTH: It's time for...
0:01:12 > 0:01:15Today we're asking - what is a shooting star?
0:01:15 > 0:01:20Our solar system today is full of planets, moons, asteroids
0:01:20 > 0:01:23and small worlds of dust and ice called comets.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25Most comets have huge elliptical orbits,
0:01:25 > 0:01:29but when they come near the sun, heat melts the ice
0:01:29 > 0:01:31and they grow long tails of gas and dust.
0:01:31 > 0:01:35But what do these comets have to do with shooting stars?
0:01:35 > 0:01:37When the ice in a comet's trail melts,
0:01:37 > 0:01:40it releases small chunks of rock and dust into space.
0:01:40 > 0:01:44These and other small rocky particles hurtling through space
0:01:44 > 0:01:48are known as meteoroids and when they enter the earth's atmosphere,
0:01:48 > 0:01:49they're known as meteors.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52So they're not really stars at all?
0:01:52 > 0:01:55Don't forget, McCork! My office, 5pm!
0:01:55 > 0:01:57Don't be late!
0:01:57 > 0:01:59But we're live.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01Oh, that is so unprofessional!
0:02:01 > 0:02:03Go to ad break! Ad break now!
0:02:06 > 0:02:09I'm really going to miss you, McCork.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11So many memories.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17Get off, McCork!
0:02:17 > 0:02:19Ha-ha-ha!
0:02:19 > 0:02:23Aw, it's just not going to be the same without him.
0:02:23 > 0:02:24What are you talking about?
0:02:24 > 0:02:26BELL RINGS
0:02:26 > 0:02:27Positions, everyone!
0:02:32 > 0:02:36So if they're not shooting stars, then what are they?
0:02:36 > 0:02:41Entering the Earth's atmosphere at speeds of 15km per second,
0:02:41 > 0:02:44meteors heat up rapidly due to friction with the air.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48As they burn up, they glow brightly, creating the streak of light
0:02:48 > 0:02:50we see as shooting stars.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52That's amazing!
0:02:52 > 0:02:55At certain times of the year, when Earth passes through a stream
0:02:55 > 0:03:00of dust left by a passing comet, we can see meteor showers.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03Spectacular events with up to 50 shooting stars per minute!
0:03:03 > 0:03:0750 per minute? That's an awful lot of stars.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10Aw, none of them are as bright as you, Professor.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13Ah, stop it! You're only embarrassing me now!
0:03:13 > 0:03:15See you around, everyone!
0:03:15 > 0:03:17And we're clear!
0:03:19 > 0:03:20What the...?
0:03:20 > 0:03:21Hey-hey!
0:03:21 > 0:03:24Looks like I'm getting fired now, right?
0:03:24 > 0:03:25From a cannon!
0:03:25 > 0:03:29Welcome, everybody, to my annual charity
0:03:29 > 0:03:32Fire A Colleague From A Cannon challenge!
0:03:32 > 0:03:36This is absolutely bonkers!
0:03:36 > 0:03:37Ready, McCork?
0:03:37 > 0:03:40Ready as I'll ever be, Mrs Hucklebuck!
0:03:40 > 0:03:41Here we go!
0:03:41 > 0:03:44Three, two, one!
0:03:44 > 0:03:47- BOOM! - Aaaaarrgh!
0:03:47 > 0:03:49SHE COUGHS
0:03:49 > 0:03:51Whoopsie!
0:03:51 > 0:03:54I think I might have got the calculations a bit wrong there.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56SHE GIGGLES
0:03:56 > 0:03:58Oh, it's going to be a long year!
0:04:00 > 0:04:02Ah, look, there's the moon!
0:04:02 > 0:04:04It looks brilliant from here.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06There's Mars.
0:04:06 > 0:04:08Mars is looking nice.
0:04:08 > 0:04:09This is brilliant!
0:04:09 > 0:04:11I wish I could get fired every day.
0:04:11 > 0:04:12Brain Freeze!