Try a laser pointer.  I saw one used as Tinkerbell in Peter Pan once with great effect.  Many of the pointers have interchangable tips for different effects.  Very cheap (Check the pet supply stores) and zero noise.

I will be at the pet store today checking out laser pointers. I already have black scrim hung upstage in front a full star curtain. We made the star curtain and it is awesome. The scrim in front  mutes everything and adds to a subtle twinkle effect. We shoot a wonderful nothern lights effect on to the scrim. It looks like it is hanging in mid-air like smoke. Given that those effects are so wonderful, the shooting star has to be fabulous. It looks like I'll be at theater this afternoon in front of the scrim with my new laser pointer. We did find out that there is actually an 'smart' instrument that we can use. The light designer is checking on the rental of that. Since we made the star curtain instead of renting it, we have a little extra money in the budget. I'll let you know how it works out. Thanks for the help.

We made our star cloth with christmas lights, plastic deer fence (It is Maine and deer fence is readily available) and about 1000 zip ties. The cost was minimal for what we got, which is an amazing starry night. This month's Stage Directions magazine has step by step directons on how to make a star curtain. Of course it came out after we made ours the trial and error way. It was all very similiar, but if we were to do it again we would use some of the ideas from the magazine. Hanging black scrim in front of the curtain is what really makes the whole thing very realistic. When you move your head the stars twinkle. Also, light levels have to be very low. We are running at about 30%. The scrim also gives us the ability to project northern lights and shooting stars with a 3D effect. Since Stage Directions had some better ideas then we did, here is the link to the online article http://stage-directions.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=0&Itemid=39