check this out :
Quick and dirty use of particle instancer: https://www.caligraphics.dk/Maya/meteor/meteors.mov
The scene file: https://www.caligraphics.dk/Maya/meteor/meteors.zip
I hope you can use some of the stuff..
Have fun.
Carsten Lind
Senior 3D Artist,
Maya Software Manager & Maya Instructor
LEGO Systems A/S