Fireballs to fly across Kentucky skies from falling Halley's Comet debris
KENTUCKY (FOX 56) — Halley's Comet may not be set to pass through the solar system for another 36 years, but broken bits have been passing through Earth's atmosphere.
According to NASA, the Eta Aquariid meteor shower will peak overnight as the comet has shed a layer of ice and dust into space. The best time to view the meteors will be around 2 a.m., on May 6, NASA noted.
The Aquariids are known as 'earthgrazers' in the northern hemisphere and can most easily be seen skimming the horizon.
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Fireballs to fly across Kentucky skies from falling Halley's Comet debris
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They pass through Earth's atmosphere beginning in the middle of April and last for roughly a calendar month. In 2025, the meteor shower is expected to last until May 21.
NASA confirmed that the moonlight might limit visibility of some of the fainter meteors.
'The light from the waxing Moon will wash out the fainter meteors this year—expect to see at most 10-15 meteors per hour just before dawn on the morning of the 6th,' said Bill Cooke, who leads NASA's Meteoroid Environments Office in Alabama.
To track the meteors, search the skies for the constellation Aquarius, which can be found by looking toward the south, according to space.com.
Latest central Kentucky weather forecast
Halley's Comet is not due to re-enter the solar system until 2061, after dazzling skywatchers in 1986 before leaving on its 76-year journey, NASA noted.
The Weather Authority is not ruling out being able to catch a few meteors, as a mix of sun and clouds is expected overnight. Anyone attempting to catch a glimpse of the meteors should wear a jacket, as temperatures are expected to fall into the upper 40s before dawn.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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