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Why are meteors easier to see away from city lights?

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Meteor and meteoroid The Cabin Creek meteorite, an iron (nickel-iron alloy) meteorite that was observed to fall in northwestern Arkansas on March 27, 1886. Its characteristic pattern of “thumbprint” dimples, or regmaglypts, is the result of melting and consequent ablation of its surface as it traveled through the atmosphere. The meteorite is likely a fragment of one of the M class asteroids, which show significant nickel-iron in their surface material.

Meteors are easier to see away from city lights primarily because of the reduction of light pollution, a phenomenon that creates "skyglow" by scattering and reflecting artificial light off particles in the atmosphere. This excessive brightness obliterates the visibility of fainter celestial objects, making it difficult to observe the luminous streaks produced by meteors.1

Furthermore, viewing the night sky in a dark location allows the human eye to undergo dark adaptation, a physiological process that increases the sensitivity of the retina to low-light conditions. By moving away from the glare of urban environments, observers can maximize their visual sensitivity, which is essential for detecting the often subtle or fleeting light produced when a meteoroid enters the atmosphere. Consequently, finding a dark site is recommended for the best viewing experience of events like the Perseid meteor shower.2345