‘Utterly disappointed': Eta Aquarids meteor shower fizzles over Singapore
SINGAPORE – Hopes for a celestial spectacle were running high, but skywatchers across Singapore were left largely disappointed during the peak of the Eta Aquarids meteor shower in the early hours of May 6 and 7 , with several reporting spotting just one meteor over a number of hours.
This particular meteor shower occurs annually when the Earth passes through debris left behind by Halley's Comet – arguably the most famous comet in history, known for being visible with the naked eye roughly every 76 years.
The meteor shower is typically more visible in the Southern Hemisphere, where observers may catch up to 50 meteors an hour under ideal conditions.
In Singapore, however, clear skies offered little payoff.
In the early hours of May 6, Chinese-language daily Lianhe Zaobao photojournalist Jason Lee , who was on assignment at Champions Green – a housing estate near Singapore Sports School in Woodlands – said he saw only one meteor over 3½ hours.
Speaking with The Straits Times, the photojournalist said: 'It didn't feel worth the wait.'
He added that the meteor 'looked quite different from what one would normally expect a meteor to be'.
A netizen, who goes by 'M ycandidphotoshot Gates ' on Facebook, said in a post that he had tried his luck at one of the least illuminated areas in Singapore – Changi Beach Park – in the early hours of May 6.
'Skies were mostly clear. I spotted one meteor with a light trail that lasted about two seconds while setting up my camera,' he wrote. 'I was stoked and thought more would follow. I was wrong.'
He added that he spent the next four hours scanning the sky in vain, even double-checking the coordinates. 'It was supposed to be more active in the south-east. Utterly disappointed,' he said.
In response to previous queries regarding visibility of cosmic events from Singapore, the Science Centre Singapore observatory said that light pollution, erratic weather and frequent cloud cover can all impact the chances of observing cosmic events from the island.
'Meteor showers are relatively faint, and dark, clear skies are required to view them,' the observatory added, noting that visibility also depends on the nature of the specific cosmic event.
Meanwhile, overseas enthusiasts had better luck. Social media was filled with vivid photos and videos from countries with darker skies and better visibility, showing bright streaks lighting up the early morning heavens.
The Eta Aquarids will continue until late May, but given the poor visibility even during its peak, further sightings in Singapore are unlikely.
Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
China's mosquito crackdown tests a city's post-Covid patience
Carried by the Aedes mosquito, the chikungunya virus was first detected in southern Tanzania in the 1950s. In the southern Chinese city of Foshan, officials are engaged in an all-out battle against chikungunya, a painful, mosquito-borne viral disease that could spread across the country. Soldiers wearing masks are fogging parks and streets with insecticide. Drones have been deployed to identify mosquito breeding sites. Researchers have introduced giant 'elephant mosquitoes,' whose larvae prey on the virus-carrying mosquitoes, and thousands of mosquito-eating fish have been released into city ponds. A virus transmitted by the bites of infected mosquitoes, chikungunya is rarely fatal, but it does cause fever and severe joint pain. It has infected about 8,000 people in China in four weeks, mostly in Foshan, and is the country's largest outbreak of its kind since the virus first emerged in the country in 2008. Experts say rising global temperatures have led to warmer and wetter weather there, allowing mosquitoes to thrive. To fight the outbreak, the authorities are also drawing on a familiar playbook honed during the Covid-19 pandemic – mobilising the city of 10 million in a 'patriotic public health campaign.' For some, that is evoking unhappy memories. At building entrances in the city, workers spray residents with mosquito repellent before allowing them in. Community workers in red vests go door to door, inspecting homes and ordering residents to dump any stagnant water. Those who don't cooperate could be fined or, in serious cases, face criminal charges for 'obstructing the prevention of infectious diseases,' according to an illustrated government explainer. At least five households have had their electricity cut for not cooperating, according to a notice issued by a neighbourhood committee in the district of Guicheng. When Covid-19 spread in China, the country imposed some of the world's strictest measures – the much-hated zero Covid policy that involved mass testing, citywide lockdowns, mandatory quarantines and the constant tracking of people's movements. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore More train rides taken in first half-year, but overall public transport use stays below 2019 levels Singapore BlueSG needs time to develop software, refresh fleet, say ex-insiders after winding-down news Asia Cambodia-Thailand border clash a setback for Asean: Vivian Balakrishnan Singapore 'She had a whole life ahead of her': Boyfriend mourns Yishun fatal crash victim Singapore Doctor hounded ex-girlfriend, threatened to share her intimate photos, abducted her off street Asia Trump's transactional foreign policy fuels 'US scepticism' in Taiwan Business Women on corporate boards give firms a competitive advantage, says Australian Governor-General Singapore CEO of sports car distributor accused of offences including multiple counts of false trading On RedNote, a popular social media platform, residents say they are being ordered by community workers to empty all containers of water, including water bowls for their dogs. Some complained that the policing was excessive. Two residents who were reached by message on RedNote and did not want to be identified out of fear of retaliation told The New York Times that workers entered their homes without their consent to search for stagnant water. Two others said their plants had been taken away or destroyed in front of them. Faxes to the Foshan city government's line could not go through Aug 5, and emails were not returned. In Foshan and other cities in Guangdong province, just north of Hong Kong, infected residents are being sent to 'quarantine wards' where they stay behind mosquito nets and screens. Some who had been infected said they were given no choice but to go to the hospital at their own expense. (During an outbreak, mosquitoes can quickly spread the virus, picking it up from a sick person and infecting healthy others.) Carried by the Aedes mosquito, which also transmits dengue and Zika, the chikungunya virus was first detected in southern Tanzania in the 1950s. (Its name comes from the Kimakonde language and means 'that which bends up,' a reference to the contorted posture of those in pain.) After an imported case of chikungunya was detected in Foshan on July 8, infections quickly spread. Now, citizens have been urged to spend at least three minutes every morning cleaning out all sources of standing water. Employees at government agencies should not go home until they have thoroughly checked plant holders, tea trays, unfinished drinks and roof awnings for water. To breed, mosquitoes 'don't actually need a lot of water or even a lake. They can spread and reproduce in even the smallest pool of water, like a Coke bottle cap,' said Dr Ren Chao, a professor at the University of Hong Kong researching the impact of climate change on the spread of mosquito-borne diseases in urban areas. The most extreme steps, such as mandatory quarantine for those infected, have not been implemented, but experts say China's pandemic measures are designed to be ratcheted up quickly if deemed necessary. 'Essentially you raise the spectre of the zero Covid strategy, with its zero-tolerance approach, the mass mobilisation, the surveillance and testing,' said Professor Yanzhong Huang, a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations. There are similarities, Prof Huang said, with even earlier mobilisations. In the late 1950s, the infamous 'four pests' campaign to eradicate rats, flies, mosquitoes and sparrows led to the mass extermination of sparrows in China and a surge in locusts that contributed to famine. 'It's fundamentally no different from the Maoist-style public health campaigns,' Prof Huang said. 'It involves the mass mobilisation of the people. It's targeting a particular threat to public health and potentially could lead to unintentional consequences.' The virus poses real risks. Experts say it can cause serious illness in older patients, newborns and people with preexisting health conditions. Most people recover within a week, but joint pain can last for months. The outbreak has raised concerns abroad. The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on Aug 1 issued a 'Level 2' travel advisory for Guangdong, urging travellers to avoid mosquito bites and to get vaccinated before arrival. (There are two approved vaccines for the virus in the United States, but they are not available in China.) Responding to reports about the US travel warning, Guo Jiakun, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said last week that the infections in China were 'under control.' Cases spreading from Indian Ocean islands to Europe and other regions prompted the World Health Organization in July to call on countries to act to prevent a large-scale outbreak. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, there have been about 240,000 cases of chikungunya and 90 deaths related to the virus globally this year; South American countries are hardest hit. Outside Foshan, about 200 infections have since been detected in 12 other cities in Guangdong. An unspecified number of cases also have been reported in neighbouring Hunan province. A handful have been reported as well in Macao and Hong Kong, which are about 170km south of Foshan. Mr Wang Weizhong, the governor of Guangdong, on Aug 2 ordered all officials to help mobilise the masses to clean out rooftops and courtyards and to light mosquito coils, install window screens and hang nets over their beds. 'We must make every effort to win the battle against the epidemic,' he said. Pharmacies in Foshan have started tracking who buys medications for fever, rash or joint pain, prompting concern online that the data would be used to identify potential infections. Skyscrapers in Foshan light up at night with messages reminding residents to burn mosquito coils and to empty out standing water. One community worker, surnamed Chen, said in an interview that she spends about 10 hours a day inspecting public places and homes, walking up and down flights of stairs. For some residents, there is little point in resisting the campaign. Ms Cy Chen, 22, a recent graduate living in Foshan, was told to stay in the hospital isolation ward after testing positive instead of returning home. 'I was already infected, so there was no use in getting upset. I might as well cooperate,' she said. NYTIMES
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Straits Times
Bird flu may be airborne on dairy farms, scientists report
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Infections in dairy cattle in the United States came as a surprise in 2024, as bird flu was not known to affect the animals. The bird flu virus that has beset dairy farms since early last 2024 may be spreading through the air in so-called milking parlours and through contaminated wastewater, as well as from milking equipment, scientists have found. The Department of Agriculture has said that the virus spreads primarily from milking equipment or is carried by dairy workers and vehicles traveling between farms. But in the new study, scientists found live virus in the air of milking facilities, suggesting that cows and farmworkers might have become infected by inhaling the pathogen. The study was posted online last week and has not been peer reviewed for publication. But the results are consistent with those from other teams who found that contaminated milking equipment might not explain all cases of bird flu observed on farms. Just as people can become infected with the seasonal flu virus by touching a sick person, from contaminated surfaces or by inhalation, 'there is no one way' that bird flu spreads, said Associate Professor Seema Lakdawala, a virus expert at Emory University who led the work. The bird flu virus, called H5N1, was first detected in dairy cows in March 2024. Since then, it has spread to more than 1,000 herds in 17 states, the majority of them in California, the nation's leader in dairy production. Bird flu has also infected dozens of people, hospitalising a few and killing one. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia What's it like to deal with brutal US tariffs? Ask Malaysia Singapore Singapore launches review of economic strategy to stay ahead of global shifts Singapore A look at the five committees reviewing Singapore's economic strategy Opinion Keeping it alive: How Chinese opera in Singapore is adapting to the age of TikTok Life Glamping in Mandai: Is a luxury stay at Colugo Camp worth the $550 price tag? Sport World Aquatics C'ships in S'pore deemed a success by athletes, fans and officials Singapore Strong S'pore-Australia ties underpinned by bonds that are continually renewed: President Tharman Federal officials have not held any briefings about the bird flu outbreak since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025. The infections in dairy cattle came as a surprise in 2024, as bird flu was not known to affect the animals. H5N1 appears to be particularly concentrated in the cows' milk, turning it yellow and viscous. Milking machines are often hooked up to many cows in quick succession and may not be thoroughly disinfected in between. The machines quickly became the suspected source of transmission on dairy farms. Prof Lakdawala and her colleagues at first believed that milking machines would prove to be the main source. They collected samples from air, wastewater, milking machines and cows on 14 California dairy farms that reported bird flu outbreaks in late 2024 and early 2025. They found the virus in the milk of sick cows and on milking equipment. To their surprise, researchers also found infectious virus in air samples collected from parlours while cows were being milked. THE NEW YORK TIMES
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Straits Times
Nasa acting chief Duffy issues directive to speed up moon reactor plans
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Nasa's acting administrator Sean Duffy has plans to accelerate the construction of a nuclear reactor that could be used on the moon. WASHINGTON – Nasa's acting administrator Sean Duffy plans to accelerate the construction of a nuclear reactor that could be used on the moon and alter the way the United States' space agency will partner with industry to replace the aging International Space Station. The plans, outlined in directives distributed inside Nasa and seen by Bloomberg on Aug 4, mark the first major policy changes by Mr Duffy after US President Donald Trump appointed him to the role as acting head of the space agency . One of the directives, first reported by US-based political news organisation Politico, would aim to speed up the development of a nuclear fission reactor that could be used to generate power on the moon one day and inform future designs for a powerplant that could be used on Mars. Nasa previously awarded contracts to commercial companies to come up with designs for small nuclear fission reactors, but Mr Duffy's directive instructs the space agency to put a call out to industry to create a more powerful reactor, with the goal of having technology ready for launch as early as 2030. The second directive targets Nasa's efforts to tap the commercial space industry to develop new space stations that could take over for the International Space Station when it is retired by the end of 2030. The directive changes the way the space agency will contract with the companies selected to create space station replacements, a step designed to provide more flexibility if Nasa's funding levels fluctuate in the years ahead. The moves come days after Mr Duffy met with the head of Russia's space agency, Mr Dmitry Bakanov, marking the first conclave between leaders of the two countries' space agencies since 2018. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singapore launches review of economic strategy to stay ahead of global shifts Singapore A look at the five committees reviewing Singapore's economic strategy Opinion Keeping it alive: How Chinese opera in Singapore is adapting to the age of TikTok Life Glamping in Mandai: Is a luxury stay at Colugo Camp worth the $550 price tag? Sport World Aquatics C'ships in S'pore deemed a success by athletes, fans and officials Singapore Strong S'pore-Australia ties underpinned by bonds that are continually renewed: President Tharman World Trump says he will 'substantially' raise tariffs on India over Russian oil purchases During the meeting, Mr Duffy and Mr Bakanov discussed the future of the International Space Station, the orbiting laboratory which is used by both nations, and joint exploration of the moon, according to a Roscosmos statement. BLOOMBERG
