When adding a Particles2D node to any node that moves, you’ll notice that the particles stay in sync as the parent node moves around. This doesn’t work if you want to create a trailing effect — well, other than the artifacts on this recording.

You can creating a trailing effect by turning off Local Coords in the editor for your Particles2D –

Drawing -> Local Coords

Now you can create trailing particles for spaceships, fires, and that sweet 2000s geocities webpage aesthetic: