What phenomenon occurs when Earth crosses a path left by a former comet?

The phenomenon that occurs when Earth crosses a path left by a former comet is known as a meteor shower. This happens when Earth travels through the debris field that a comet has left behind in its orbit. As the Earth moves through this region of space, particles from the comet enter the Earth's atmosphere at high speeds and burn up, creating bright streaks of light known as meteors. These events often occur at specific times of the year, corresponding to the Earth's orbit around the Sun and the position of the comet's debris.

In contrast, a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking the Sun's light. Starfall typically refers to the visual phenomenon experienced during a meteor shower but isn't a scientifically recognized term. Galactic events generally refer to large-scale phenomena involving the behavior of galaxies and do not specifically relate to the passage of comets and meteor showers. Thus, the meteor shower is directly tied to the interaction between Earth and the remaining particles of a comet's tail.