Latest news with #Aquariids
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Aquarids meteor shower viewing alert: When and where to see shooting stars
The Aquarids, a meteor shower famous for its speedy balls of space debris that streak across the night sky, is due to peak in early May. The ETA Aquarids reliably becomes most active around early May each year as Earth passes through debris left by the famous Halley's comet. Taking place right on the heels of the Lyrid meteor shower, the Aquarids – sometimes spelled as "Aquariids" – are also the last opportunity to catch a meteor shower for a few months before the next one peaks in late July. The Aquarids meteors don't produce bright flashes known as fireballs, but they are famous for being fast and leaving spectacular glowing trails in their wake. Here's everything to know about the ETA Aquarids meteor shower and how to see it in 2025: The Aquarids, which first became active April 19, are due to peak between May 5 and May 6 as Earth passes through the densest part of Halley's cosmic debris, according to the American Meteor Society. While the meteors won't be as bright or dazzling after the peak, stargazers could still catch some up until about May 28. The Aquarids are the third major meteor shower of the year, following the Lyrids earlier in April and the Quadrantids in January. Like all meteor showers, the Aquarids are best viewed during the dark hours between midnight and dawn. The website Time and Date also provides detailed information about where and when to see the phenomenon. The Aquarids should pretty much be visible around the globe anywhere in the sky – assuming clouds and a bright moon don't obscure the view. However, the meteors are best seen from the Southern Hemisphere. That's because the meteors seem to emerge – or radiate – from the constellation Aquarius, which is higher up in the sky in the Southern Hemisphere than it is in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, ETA Aquarid meteors appear as what NASA refers to as "Earthgrazers" – or long meteors that appear to skim the surface of the Earth at the horizon. Getting away from city light pollution and street lights will also help to unveil the best sights. Aquarids meteors whiz across the sky at up to about 40.7 miles per second. That's fast enough to leave a glowing trail of debris behind that can last for several seconds or even multiple minutes, according to NASA. If conditions are right, up to about 50 meteors can be seen per hour during the shower's peak. But north of the equator, the meteor shower typically produces no more than 10 to 30 meteors per hour. Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through dusty debris trails left by comets and other space objects as they orbit the sun. The debris – space rocks known as meteoroids – collides with Earth's atmosphere at high speed and disintegrates, creating fiery and colorful streaks in the sky, according to NASA. The striking celestial sight, which are often colloquially referred to as "shooting stars," are meteors. If meteoroids survive their trip to Earth without burning up in the atmosphere, they are called meteorites, NASA says. The Aquarids' parent comet is perhaps the most famous one of them all: Halley's Comet. Halley, which takes about 76 years for each orbit of the sun, won't be seen again by casual observers until 2061 after it was last sighted in 1986. But despite its rare appearance to us here on Earth, Halley's impact is still felt at least twice a year when we enter its debris path. Each time Halley returns to the inner solar system, its nucleus sheds ice and rocky dust into space that eventually becomes not only the ETA Aquarids in May, but the Orionids every October. Up next, both Southern delta Aquarids and the alpha Capricornids are due to peak at the same time between July 29 and July 30, according to the American Meteor Society. The Capricornids begin their activity July 12, followed by the Southern delta Aquarids on July 18. Both meteor showers will remain active until Aug. 12. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@ This article originally appeared on Florida Today: How to see ETA Aquarids meteor shower peak in May 2025
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
When to see the Aquarids meteor shower, debris from Halley's comet from Iowa
Skywatchers in Iowa have one last opportunity in the coming days to catch a meteor shower, as the next one won't peak until late July. The ETA Aquarids, a meteor shower that originated from the debris left by Halley's comet, becomes most active each May during the first couple of weeks of the month. The Aquarids – sometimes spelled as "Aquariids" – are famous for being fast and leaving spectacular glowing trails in their wake. The ETA Aquarids, a meteor shower formed from debris left behind by Halley's comet, reach their peak activity each year during the first few weeks of May. The Aquarids — sometimes spelled "Aquariids" — are known for their incredible speed and glowing trails. When does the ETA Aquarids meteor shower peak? An Eta Aquarid meteor streaks over north Georgia on April 29, 2012. The Aquarids, which first became active on April 19, are due to peak between May 5 and May 6 and last until May 28, according to the American Meteor Society. The Aquarids follow the Lyrid meteor shower in April and the Quadrantids in January. What time can I see the Aquarids meteors? The Aquarids are best viewed during the dark hours between midnight and dawn, according to the American Meteor Society. The website Time and Date also provides detailed information about where and when to see the phenomenon. For Des Moines, peak viewing is usually between 3 and 6 a.m. Where can you see Aquarids meteor shower? The Aquarids should pretty much be visible around the globe, anywhere in the sky – assuming clouds and a bright moon don't obscure the view. However, the meteors are best seen from the Southern Hemisphere. That's because the meteors seem to emerge – or radiate – from the constellation Aquarius, which is higher up in the sky in the Southern Hemisphere than it is in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, ETA Aquarid meteors appear as what NASA refers to as "Earthgrazers" – or long meteors that appear to skim the surface of the Earth at the horizon. Heading to a rural area or anywhere that is as dark as possible to decrease the chances of light pollution will also help to unveil the best sights. What is the weather forecast for Aquarids meteor shower in Iowa? The National Weather Service expects mostly clear skies across Iowa at 1 a.m. Tuesday, May 6, 2025. May 5 will be Iowans' best chance of seeing the Aquarids meteor shower. The night of Monday, May 5, will be mostly clear with a low around 48 degrees in Des Moines. Most of Iowa is forecast to have between 10% and 25% cloud cover overnight. Parts of northeast Iowa could have as much as 41% cloud cover. Tuesday night will see increased cloud coverage with a low near 52 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. The National Weather Service expects more cloud cover in Iowa in the early morning hours of Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Cloud cover is expected to be between 37% and 75% across Iowa between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Des Moines is forecast at 60% cloud cover. Clouds will be thickest in southwest Iowa and the least cloud cover will be in northeast Iowa. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@ Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@ or follow him on X @CooperAWorth. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Can you see the Aquarids meteor shower from Iowa? Here's what to know.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
When to see the ETA Aquarids meteor shower from Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach, Stuart
For the next two nights, if you look up at the sky, you could get a glimpse of the ETA Aquarids meteor shower. The meteor shower will be visible across the globe, including in Florida, peaking on May 5 and May 6. However, the meteor shower started on April 19, according to the American Meteor Society. Here's what to know about the celestial events kicking off this week and when the best times to head outside to watch them will be. The Aquarids — sometimes spelled "Aquariids" — follows closely on the heels of the Lyrid meteors less than two weeks ago, and is the final meteor shower for more than two months. The meteors reliably become most active around early May each year as Earth passes through debris left by the famous Halley's comet. The Aquarids will peak between May 5 and May 6 as Earth passes through the densest part of Halley's cosmic debris, according to the American Meteor Society. While the meteors won't be as bright or dazzling after the peak, stargazers could still catch some up until about May 28. The best view is actually in the Southern Hemisphere. Since the Treasure Coast is in the Northern Hemisphere, the meteors will appear as "Earthgrazers," or long meteors that appear to skim the surface of the Earth at the horizon, according to NASA. SpaceX rocket launch in Florida: Where to watch in Vero Beach, Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie Look up: How about a meteor shower to start your work week? Here's when to head outside in Florida Look low on the horizon. It's best to lie on your back, with your feet facing east, NASA said. Look for an unobstructed view away from lights. It'll take about 30 minutes for your eyes to adapt to the darkness for you to be able to see the meteors. Meteor showers like the Eta Aquarids don't have a specific time to head outside and watch in the same sense as something like an eclipse, the Pensacola News Journal reported. The best shot at catching a glimpse of the Eta Aquarid meteors is when it's darkest outside, with NASA suggesting going out at 2 a.m. on May 6 to watch, and in a spot away from light pollution. Visibility is dependent on sky conditions and cloud coverage. The National Weather Service shared graphics showing the cloud forecast across the U.S. overnight for both May 5 and May 6. Click below to see the visibility in these three Treasure Coast cities, according to Time and Date AS, which did not have information for Fort Pierce, Jensen Beach or Palm City: Port St. Lucie Stuart Vero Beach Halley's comet, which takes about 76 years for each orbit of the sun, won't be seen again by casual observers until 2061, after it was last sighted in 1986. Despite its rare appearance on Earth, Halley's impact is still present at least twice a year when we enter its debris path — first during the ETA Aquarids in May and then again during the Orionids every October. Gianna Montesano is TCPalm's trending reporter. You can contact her at 772-409-1429, or follow her on X @gonthescene. Brandon Girod contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: ETA Aquarids meteor shower visibility from Fort Pierce, Jensen Beach
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
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. Kentucky Derby averages 17.7 million viewers, giving NBC its most-watched Run for the Roses Fireballs to fly across Kentucky skies from falling Halley's Comet debris Georgetown man allegedly believed he was meeting teen girl, faced police instead 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 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.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
What time can you see the Eta Aquarids meteor shower? See peak days, Ohio weather forecast
Roughly two weeks after the most recent meteor shower of 2025, shooting stars will again streak across the skies over Ohio. And the peak night to view them is here. The third meteor shower of the year behind the Lyrids in April and the Quadrantids in January, the Eta Aquarids (also spelled "Aquariids") peak in early May each year. And they're spawned by perhaps the most famous comet of them all — Halley's. While they're best viewed from the Southern Hemisphere, according to NASA, the Eta Aquarids will still put on a show across the United States, if the weather cooperates. But with Ohio being Ohio, Mother Nature may not. Here's what to know. The biggest astronomical events in 2025: Every eclipse, comet, meteor shower to see in Ohio The Eta Aquarids will peak the evening of May 5 into the pre-dawn hours of May 6, according to NASA. According to NASA's Watch the Skies blog, the best time to view the peak starts at 2 a.m. May 6 and lasts until dawn. "Expect to see at most 10–15 meteors per hour just before dawn on the morning of May 6,' Bill Cooke, who leads NASA's Meteoroid Environments Office at the agency's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, told the blog. The moon, however, will be about 60% full, and its light may block some of the show. 'The light from the waxing Moon will wash out the fainter meteors this year," Cooke said. The moon might not be the only thing to dampen the meteor shower during its peak. Rain is in the Ohio weather forecast for May 5 to 6. According to the National Weather Service forecast for Akron, there's an 80% chance of showers, and a 50% chance of thunderstorms on the evening of May 5, which continues into May 6, with a 40% chance of showers that morning. In Columbus, there's a 60% chance of showers the evening of May 5, which grows to an 80% chance of May 6. Cincinnati may have the best chance of cooperative weather, with only a 30% chance of showers overnight May 5 continuing into May 6. Active from April 20 to May 21, per NASA, the Eta Aquarids appear to originate from the constellation Aquarius, giving the meteor shower its name. The meteors are known for their speed, and they can leave glowing "trains" — bits of debris in their wake — that can last for up to a full minute. They originate from debris left behind by Halley's Comet, which returns every 76 years and was last seen in 1986. Halley is often called the most famous comet because it marked the first time astronomers understood comets could be repeat visitors to the solar system, according to NASA. Scientists have now linked its appearances to observations dating back more than 2,000 years. Before Edmond Halley, an English astronomer who lived from 1656 to 1742, comets were believed to make only one pass through the solar system. In 1705, Halley used Isaac Newton's theories of gravitation and planetary motions to compute the orbits of several comets. He found similarities in the orbits of bright comets reported in 1531, 1607, and 1682. Halley suggested that they were a single comet making return trips. Halley correctly predicted the comet would return in 1758. History's first known "periodic" comet was later named in his honor. The big show every year is the Perseid meteor shower, which this year will peak from Aug. 12 to 13 with 50 to 100 meteors per hour, according to NASA. The Perseids appear to originate from the constellation Perseus and are considered to be the best meteor shower of the year, according to NASA. At their peak, the Perseids can generate up to 100 meteors per hour. These meteors originate from comet Swift-Tuttle, which orbits the sun every 133 years and was last seen in 1992. Swift-Tuttle is large, with a nucleus measuring 16 miles wide. According to NASA, that's nearly twice the size of the object thought to have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: When Eta Aquarids meteor shower 2025? Peak days, Ohio weather forecast
