What do we call the trails of light produced when meteors burn up in Earth's atmosphere?

The trails of light produced when meteors burn up in Earth's atmosphere are known as meteors. When these meteoroids enter the atmosphere at high speeds, they heat up due to friction, causing them to glow brightly and create a visible streak of light, often referred to as a "shooting star" or meteor.

Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through a trail of debris left by a comet or other celestial body, leading to an increase in the number of meteors visible in the night sky during a specific period. While the term "meteor shower" does describe an event where multiple meteors can be seen, the specific trails of light observed when individual meteoroids enter the atmosphere are known simply as meteors and are what you're witnessing during a meteor shower event.

Other options do not accurately describe this phenomenon. Comet tails are produced when comets approach the Sun and lose material, creating a glowing tail; star showers is not a scientifically recognized term and does not have a specific meaning in astronomy; auroras are natural light displays in the Earth's sky, predominantly seen in high-latitude regions, and are caused by the interaction of solar wind with Earth's magnetic field, differing significantly from meteors.