Eta Aquarids meteor shower to peak at midnight May 6 with up to 50 per hour
PUTRAJAYA: The Eta Aquarids meteor shower is expected to peak at midnight (May 6) until before sunrise, with an average of 50 meteors per hour, according to the Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA).
In a post on its official Facebook page today, MYSA said the Eta Aquarids meteor shower can be observed from April 19 to May 28.
'Visibility will be favourable after the Moon (in its last quarter phase) sets at 2.29 am,' the agency said.
MYSA advised that for the best viewing experience, observations should be made from open areas free of obstructions such as tall buildings, trees, or houses.
'Try to get a wide view of the sky. Avoid brightly lit areas, as darker surroundings offer better visibility,' it added.
The Eta Aquarids meteor shower appears to radiate from the constellation Aquarius, although meteors can be seen streaking across the sky from various directions.
This annual phenomenon is named after Eta Aquarii, the brightest star in the Aquarius constellation. It occurs when Earth passes through the orbital path of Comet 1P/Halley, commonly known as Halley's Comet.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
15 hours ago
- The Sun
Japanese company aborts Moon mission after losing contact with lander
TOKYO: Japan's hopes of achieving its first soft landing on the Moon by a private company were dashed Friday when the mission was aborted over lost contact with the Resilience spacecraft during a daunting final descent. Tokyo-based ispace had hoped to make history as only the third private firm -- and the first outside the United States -- to achieve a controlled touchdown on the lunar surface with its robotic lander. But it decided to end the mission as 'recovery of communication with the lander is unlikely', CEO Takeshi Hakamada told reporters. Resilience began falling during the landing attempt, and mission control fired the engines to slow it down, he said. 'We confirmed that the lander's position moved to almost vertical', but 'after the planned landing time we were not able to receive data that confirms its landing'. The failure comes two years after a prior mission ended in a crash. Touchdown had been scheduled for 4:17 am Japan time on Friday (1917 GMT Thursday) on the Mare Frigoris region of the Moon's northern hemisphere. But the mood in mission control turned sombre, and around 15 minutes after the scheduled time, announcers on a livestream said attempts to communicate with the lander would continue. They signed off with the message: 'Never quit the lunar quest.' On board the lander were several high-profile payloads: Tenacious, a Luxembourg-built micro rover; a water electrolyzer to split molecules into hydrogen and oxygen; a food production experiment; and a deep-space radiation probe. The rover also carried 'Moonhouse,' a model home designed by Swedish artist Mikael Genberg. - Lunar soil - The mission had also aimed to collect two lunar soil samples and sell them to NASA for $5,000. Though the samples would remain on the Moon, the symbolic transaction is meant to strengthen the US stance that commercial activity -- though not sovereign claims -- should be allowed on celestial bodies. To date, only five nations have achieved soft lunar landings: the Soviet Union, the United States, China, India, and Japan. Now, private companies are joining the race, promising cheaper and more frequent access to space. Last year, Houston-based Intuitive Machines became the first private enterprise to reach the Moon. Though its uncrewed lander touched down at an awkward angle, it still managed to complete tests and transmit photos. Then in March this year, Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost -- launched on the same SpaceX rocket as ispace's Resilience -- aced its lunar landing attempt. Despite their rocket ride-share, Resilience took longer to reach the Moon than Blue Ghost, and ispace was now hoping for its own moment of glory, after its first mission resulted in an unsalvageable 'hard landing' in 2023. Landing on the Moon is highly challenging as spacecraft must rely on precisely controlled thruster burning to slow their descent over treacherous terrain. Intuitive Machines' second attempt at a Moon landing ended in disappointment in late March. Its spacecraft Athena, designed to touch down on a spot called the Mons Mouton plateau -- closer to the lunar south pole than any previous mission -- tipped over and was unable to recharge its solar-powered batteries.
The Sun
15 hours ago
- The Sun
Japanese spacecraft loses contact with lander
TOKYO: Japan's hopes of achieving its first soft landing on the Moon by a private company were dashed Friday when the mission was aborted over lost contact with the Resilience spacecraft during a daunting final descent. Tokyo-based ispace had hoped to make history as only the third private firm -- and the first outside the United States -- to achieve a controlled touchdown on the lunar surface with its robotic lander. But it decided to end the mission as 'recovery of communication with the lander is unlikely', CEO Takeshi Hakamada told reporters. Resilience began falling during the landing attempt, and mission control fired the engines to slow it down, he said. 'We confirmed that the lander's position moved to almost vertical', but 'after the planned landing time we were not able to receive data that confirms its landing'. The failure comes two years after a prior mission ended in a crash. Touchdown had been scheduled for 4:17 am Japan time on Friday (1917 GMT Thursday) on the Mare Frigoris region of the Moon's northern hemisphere. But the mood in mission control turned sombre, and around 15 minutes after the scheduled time, announcers on a livestream said attempts to communicate with the lander would continue. They signed off with the message: 'Never quit the lunar quest.' On board the lander were several high-profile payloads: Tenacious, a Luxembourg-built micro rover; a water electrolyzer to split molecules into hydrogen and oxygen; a food production experiment; and a deep-space radiation probe. The rover also carried 'Moonhouse,' a model home designed by Swedish artist Mikael Genberg. - Lunar soil - The mission had also aimed to collect two lunar soil samples and sell them to NASA for $5,000. Though the samples would remain on the Moon, the symbolic transaction is meant to strengthen the US stance that commercial activity -- though not sovereign claims -- should be allowed on celestial bodies. To date, only five nations have achieved soft lunar landings: the Soviet Union, the United States, China, India, and Japan. Now, private companies are joining the race, promising cheaper and more frequent access to space. Last year, Houston-based Intuitive Machines became the first private enterprise to reach the Moon. Though its uncrewed lander touched down at an awkward angle, it still managed to complete tests and transmit photos. Then in March this year, Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost -- launched on the same SpaceX rocket as ispace's Resilience -- aced its lunar landing attempt. Despite their rocket ride-share, Resilience took longer to reach the Moon than Blue Ghost, and ispace was now hoping for its own moment of glory, after its first mission resulted in an unsalvageable 'hard landing' in 2023. Landing on the Moon is highly challenging as spacecraft must rely on precisely controlled thruster burning to slow their descent over treacherous terrain. Intuitive Machines' second attempt at a Moon landing ended in disappointment in late March. Its spacecraft Athena, designed to touch down on a spot called the Mons Mouton plateau -- closer to the lunar south pole than any previous mission -- tipped over and was unable to recharge its solar-powered batteries.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
Japan, Malaysia to co-develop sustainable space ecosystem
KUALA LUMPUR: Japan and Malaysia are poised to co-create a sustainable and commercially viable space ecosystem, aiming to address key societal challenges in both countries while jointly working toward a better future. Nakamura Takehiro, director of Bangkok office, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), said this shared ambition builds on decades of collaboration between JAXA and the Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA), most recently reinforced by a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) in 2023. "JAXA is proud to contribute to this shared vision by advancing research and applications of space-based data, supporting satellite development capabilities, and providing technical expertise and cooperation to bolster national space ecosystems. "This includes active support for long-term national strategies such as Malaysia Space Exploration 2030 (MSE2030). Under this policy, Malaysia aims to position its space sector as a key driver of competitiveness, sovereignty, and national well-being," he said in a statement. The MSE2030 policy is designed to reduce costs, improve service delivery, and drive innovation across sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, construction, environmental management, and mining, leveraging space technology to support national development. "The signing of the MoC between JAXA and MYSA marks a significant step forward in supporting implementation and affirms the deepening of bilateral cooperation between Japan and Malaysia through space activities," he said. Takehiro also highlighted the strong potential of the bilateral partnership, showcased during the Technomart Malaysia-Japan: Space Tech Collaboration event held at the Malaysia Pavilion during Expo 2025 Osaka on May 15, 2025. Technomart was more than just a showcase of capabilities—it was a strategic platform designed to promote tangible business outcomes across a broad range of sectors. These included technologies, products, services, and solutions in satellite-based Earth observation aimed at addressing social challenges; the development and manufacturing of small satellites; rocket launch services and launch site infrastructure for satellite deployment; and emerging ventures in lunar exploration. "As Malaysia continues to invest in its industrial base and develop future-ready talent, and as Japan ventures to pursue deeper international partnerships, both countries are well-positioned to lead the next wave of space innovation, by addressing regional social challenges based on cooperation, technology, and trust, working together toward a future of shared prosperity," added Takehiro.
