WASHINGTON — The Eta Aquarid meteor bathe, remnants of Halley’s comet, peaks this weekend. And with only a waning crescent moon within the sky, it must be seen.
The Eta Aquarids happen yearly in early Might. This yr’s peak exercise occurs early Sunday with an anticipated 10 to 30 meteors seen per hour within the Northern Hemisphere. Viewing must be even higher within the Southern Hemisphere. The bathe lasts by Might 27.
Right here’s what to know in regards to the Eta Aquarids and different meteor showers.
A number of meteor showers happen yearly and also you don’t want particular tools to see them.
Most meteor showers originate from the particles of comets. The supply of the Eta Aquarids is Halley’s comet.
When rocks from house enter Earth’s environment, the resistance from the air makes them very popular. This causes the air to glow round them and briefly leaves a fiery tail behind them — the tip of a “taking pictures star.”
The glowing pockets of air round fast-moving house rocks, starting from the scale of a mud particle to a boulder, could also be seen within the evening sky.
Meteor showers are normally most seen between midnight and predawn hours.
It’s simpler to see taking pictures stars underneath darkish skies, away from metropolis lights. Meteor showers additionally seem brightest on cloudless nights when the moon wanes smallest.
The Southern Hemisphere can have the perfect view of Eta Aquarids, however a waning moon simply 14% full will permit for clear viewing in each hemispheres, in response to the American Meteor Society.
The meteor society retains an up to date record of upcoming massive meteor showers, together with the height viewing days and moonlight situations.
The following large one is the Southern Delta Aquarid meteor bathe, which peaks in late July.
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