Latest news with #BillCooke
CBS News
05-05-2025
- Science
- CBS News
When, where to see Eta Aquariid meteors, formed from Halley's comet debris, as the shower peaks tonight
Meteors from the Eta Aquariids, created by space debris left behind by the famous Halley's Comet, are set to zoom across the sky as the meteor shower peaks tonight. The Eta Aquariids will peak from Monday night through Tuesday morning, according to NASA. Astronomy fans hoping to enjoy the meteors can check local forecasts for detailed information on how clear the night sky will be in various locations. Under optimal conditions, about 50 Eta Aquariid meteors can be seen per hour during the shower's peak. But light from the waxing moon will wash out the fainter meteors this year, according to Bill Cooke, who leads NASA's Meteoroid Environments Office. Viewers can expect 10-15 meteors per hour just before dawn on Tuesday morning. When and where to see the Eta Aquariids While the shower will peak from May 5 to May 6, the shower will be active until May 21. To catch the meteors at their peak, NASA advises going outside around 2 a.m. local time on Tuesday. The moon will set by around 3 a.m., leaving skies dark until dawn. The shower will be viewable in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres but the conditions will be better in the Southern Hemisphere. The Eta Aquarids meteor shower, best observed in the predawn hours away from city lights, is a mesmerizing celestial event cherished by skywatchers worldwide. Thilina Kaluthotage/NurPhoto via Getty Images Viewers should find an area away from lights, then lie on their backs with their feet facing east. NASA advises viewers should look away from the moon and give their eyes about 30 minutes to adjust to the dark. Avoid looking at bright lights, such as a cellphone. Bring a sleeping bag, blanket or lawn chair to keep comfortable while waiting for the meteors. What are meteor showers? Meteors, space rocks that enter Earth's atmosphere, streak through the sky every day. But meteor showers — when many meteors hit Earth's atmosphere over a short period of time — happen less frequently. When meteors pass through the atmosphere, they leave streaks of light behind them, giving them the appearance of a shooting star. Most meteors burn up as they fall toward Earth, but some survive the trip and are then considered meteorites. What makes the Eta Aquariids unique The Eta Aquariids are known for their speed. The Eta Aquariids travel about 40 miles per second. Eta Aquarid meteors in the Northern Hemisphere are often earthgrazers — long meteors that appear to skim the surface of the Earth at the horizon, according to NASA. Meteors in the Eta Aquariids come from space debris that originated from Halley's comet. Halley sheds a layer of ice and dust into space each time it returns to the inner solar system. The shed space dust forms two meteor showers a year: the Eta Aquarids in May and the Orionids in October. Those hoping to see Halley itself will have to wait a while. Halley takes about 76 years to orbit the sun and will not enter the inner solar system again until 2061.
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
- Science
- Yahoo
When, where to see Eta Aquariid meteors as the shower peaks this month
Eta Aquariids are set to zoom across the sky as the meteor shower peaks tonight. The Eta Aquariids will peak from Monday night through Tuesday morning, according to NASA. Astronomy fans hoping to enjoy the meteors can check local forecasts for detailed information on how clear the night sky will be in various locations. Under optimal conditions, about 50 Eta Aquariid meteors can be seen per hour during the shower's peak. But light from the waxing moon will wash out the fainter meteors this year, according to Bill Cooke, who leads NASA's Meteoroid Environments Office. Viewers can expect 10-15 meteors per hour just before dawn on Tuesday morning. When and where to see the Eta Aquariids While the shower will peak from May 5 to May 6, the shower will be active until May 21. To catch the meteors at their peak, NASA advises going outside around 2 a.m. local time on Tuesday. The moon will set by around 3 a.m., leaving skies dark until dawn. The shower will be viewable in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres but the conditions will be better in the Southern Hemisphere. Viewers should find an area away from lights, then lie on their backs with their feet facing east. NASA advises viewers should look away from the moon and give their eyes about 30 minutes to adjust to the dark. Avoid looking at bright lights, such as a cellphone. Bring a sleeping bag, blanket or lawn chair to keep comfortable while waiting for the meteors. What are meteor showers? Meteors, space rocks that enter Earth's atmosphere, streak through the sky every day. But meteor showers — when many meteors hit Earth's atmosphere over a short period of time — happen less frequently. When meteors pass through the atmosphere, they leave streaks of light behind them, giving them the appearance of a shooting star. Most meteors burn up as they fall toward Earth, but some survive the trip and are then considered meteorites. What makes the Eta Aquariids unique The Eta Aquariids are known for their speed. The Eta Aquariids travel about 40 miles per second. Eta Aquarid meteors in the Northern Hemisphere are often earthgrazers — long meteors that appear to skim the surface of the Earth at the horizon, according to NASA. Meteors in the Eta Aquariids come from space debris that originated from Halley's comet. Halley sheds a layer of ice and dust into space each time it returns to the inner solar system. The shed space dust forms two meteor showers a year: the Eta Aquarids in May and the Orionids in October. Former treasury secretary on Trump's tariffs alarming American businesses Millions of Americans brace for federal student loan collections to resume Newark airport travel woes continue as staffing issues persist
CBS News
05-05-2025
- Science
- CBS News
When, where to see Eta Aquariid meteors as the shower peaks tonight
Eta Aquariids are set to zoom across the sky as the meteor shower peaks tonight. The Eta Aquariids will peak from Monday night through Tuesday morning, according to NASA. Astronomy fans hoping to enjoy the meteors can check local forecasts for detailed information on how clear the night sky will be in various locations. Under optimal conditions, about 50 Eta Aquariid meteors can be seen per hour during the shower's peak. But light from the waxing moon will wash out the fainter meteors this year, according to Bill Cooke, who leads NASA's Meteoroid Environments Office. Viewers can expect 10-15 meteors per hour just before dawn on Tuesday morning. When and where to see the Eta Aquariids While the shower will peak from May 5 to May 6, the shower will be active until May 21. To catch the meteors at their peak, NASA advises going outside around 2 a.m. local time on Tuesday. The moon will set by around 3 a.m., leaving skies dark until dawn. The shower will be viewable in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres but the conditions will be better in the Southern Hemisphere. The Eta Aquarids meteor shower, best observed in the predawn hours away from city lights, is a mesmerizing celestial event cherished by skywatchers worldwide. Thilina Kaluthotage/NurPhoto via Getty Images Viewers should find an area away from lights, then lie on their backs with their feet facing east. NASA advises viewers should look away from the moon and give their eyes about 30 minutes to adjust to the dark. Avoid looking at bright lights, such as a cellphone. Bring a sleeping bag, blanket or lawn chair to keep comfortable while waiting for the meteors. What are meteor showers? Meteors, space rocks that enter Earth's atmosphere, streak through the sky every day. But meteor showers — when many meteors hit Earth's atmosphere over a short period of time — happen less frequently. When meteors pass through the atmosphere, they leave streaks of light behind them, giving them the appearance of a shooting star. Most meteors burn up as they fall toward Earth, but some survive the trip and are then considered meteorites. What makes the Eta Aquariids unique The Eta Aquariids are known for their speed. The Eta Aquariids travel about 40 miles per second. Eta Aquarid meteors in the Northern Hemisphere are often earthgrazers — long meteors that appear to skim the surface of the Earth at the horizon, according to NASA. Meteors in the Eta Aquariids come from space debris that originated from Halley's comet. Halley sheds a layer of ice and dust into space each time it returns to the inner solar system. The shed space dust forms two meteor showers a year: the Eta Aquarids in May and the Orionids in October.
Fast Company
05-05-2025
- Science
- Fast Company
Eta Aquarids peak May 2025: See dust from Halley's comet light up the sky with a meteor shower tonight
You're going to want to look up into the night late Monday, May 5 into the early hours of Tuesday, May 6 to see the debris of Halley's comet as it lights up the sky with a meteor shower called the Eta Aquarids. What are Halley's comet and the Eta Aquarids meteor shower, anyway? While Halley's comet itself only travels around the sun every 75 or so years, each time it returns to the inner solar system, it sprays debris (ice and rock) into space which results in two meteor shower each year: the Eta Aquarids in May, and the Orionids in October, creating what we know as shooting stars. Halley's was last seen in 1986, and won't come around again until 2061. When comets pass by the sun, the dust they emit eventually creates a 'dusty trail' around their orbits. Then when Earth passes through these trails, they interact with our atmosphere, creating those dazzling shows of light in the sky. The Eta Aquarids peak early in the month of May, and are known for their speed; they travel at about 40.7 miles per second into Earth's atmosphere, according to NASA. That's important because fast meteors can leave glowing incandescent 'trains' of debris, which last for several seconds to minutes. During the peak of the Eta Aquarids, viewers can see up to 50 meteors each hour, depending on visibility. What's the best time to see the Eta Aquarids meteor shower in 2025? Peak viewing is this Monday night, May 5, into Tuesday morning May 6 in the predawn hours, according to NASA's Bill Cooke who told the AP that visibility will likely be affected by the moon, which will be two-thirds full. The good news: viewing last through the month until May 28. You can view the Eta Aquarids in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres, but the Southern Hemisphere is preferable. For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, viewers can expect to see about 10 meteors an hour, depending on your latitude, and conditions that night. Expect to see 'Earthgrazers,' which are long meteors 'that appear to skim the surface of the Earth at the horizon,' per NASA. NASA's viewing tips for the Eta Aquarids meteor shower Our friends at NASA offer these tips: Find a viewing spot away from city or street lights. Lie flat on your back with your feet facing east. You may want to bring a blanket or a lounge chair. Look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible. After about 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors. Be patient. The show will last until dawn, so you have plenty of time to catch a glimpse.
