Latest news with #EtaAquariids
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
When is the next full moon? How to see May's flower moon and Eta Aquariid meteor shower
May flowers are here, and so is the flower moon. The latest full moon will be visible in the sky on Mother's Day, giving mothers a lunar gift for the holiday. Full moons happen every 29.5 days and typically once per month. On the rare occasion we get two full moons in the month it's called a 'blue moon' — hence, the saying 'once in a blue moon.' The next one will occur on May 31, 2026. Here's what to know about May's full moon. The next full moon, a flower moon, will be visible on May 12 at 12:56 p.m., according to May's full moon is also a micromoon. Ahead of the full moon, a first-quarter moon will appear on May 4 at 9:52 a.m., followed by a last quarter moon on May 20 at 7:59 a.m. and a new moon on May 26 at 11:02 p.m., according to Almanac. The full moon in May is called the flower moon and symbolizes the flowers that bloom during the month, according to May's brightest moon phase is also known as the 'milk moon' from the Old English word 'rimilcemona,' which means three-milkings-month and signifies the cows that were milked three times a day during this time of year. Other Celtic and Old English names for May's full moon include 'mothers' moon,' 'hare moon' and 'grass moon.' Native American names for the month's full moon are the 'egg-laying moon' and 'planting moon.' Elsmere news: Heated meeting leads to Elsmere mayor's abrupt resignation. What happened and why? When a full moon or new moon is at its farthest point from earth, called apogee, it is known as a micromoon, the opposite of a supermoon, according to Almanac. A micromoon looks approximately 14% smaller than a supermoon, with its illuminated area appearing 30% smaller, reports. May's micromoon is reported to be the last one in 2025. Aside from the full moon, the Eta Aquariid meteor shower (also written as "Eta Aquarid") will occur in early May. The meteor shower runs through May 28 after peaking on May 5 and 6. The Eta Aquariids occur when Earth passes through debris or ice and dust left behind from Comet 1P/Halley, commonly known as Halley's Comet, hundreds of years ago, according to 'Halley's Comet is named after English astronomer Edmon Halley, who examined reports of comets approaching Earth in 1531, 1607 and 1682,' accurately predicting the return of the comet in 1758 and confirming his theory that the sightings were of the same comet. Halley's Comet takes about 76 years to orbit the sun. It will not enter the solar system again until 2061. This comet is also the parent comet of the Orionid meteor shower in late October. 'Comet crumbs' heat up as they enter Earth's atmosphere when they pass through the comet debris, creating the shooting stars seen from below. The Eta Aquariids are known for a high percentage of persistent trains. The meteor shower produces up to 50 meteors per hour, which is more than a usual meteor shower can produce. The meteor shower is best seen from the Southern Hemisphere. The Eta Aquariids are visible in the hours before dawn. Their radiant culminates at around 8 a.m., which leaves a short observation window between the rise of the radiant and morning twilight, according to No special equipment is needed to watch the Lyrids meteor shower. All you need is a comfy blanket to sit on and an open sky to look up at. Organ donation in Delaware: 'From the bottom of our heart': How organ donation helps Delawareans gain, and give, new life Looking ahead, June's full moon is called the 'strawberry moon,' named after the small wild strawberries that ripen at this time of the year. It will be visible on June 11 at 3:43 a.m., according to Almanac. The strawberry moon is also known as the 'hot moon,' 'green corn moon' and 'berries ripen moon' to Native American tribes; the 'horse moon,' 'rose moon' and 'dyan moon' in Celtic culture; and the 'mead moon' to Anglo-Saxons, a nod to the moon occurring during a time of year meant for mowing the meads, or meadows, according to Around every 20 years, the strawberry moon coincides with the summer solstice, occurring on either June 20, 21 or 22. Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys'tal Griffin at kgriffin@ This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: When is the next full moon May 2025? How to see May's flower moon
The Guardian
06-05-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
What is the best time to see the Eta Aquariids meteor shower? Where and how can I see it in Australia?
Stargazers and early risers are in for a stellar show this week, with one of the biggest meteor showers in the southern hemisphere due to light up the skies. The meteors — called the Eta Aquariids – pass through the atmosphere every year, but 2025 is due to be particularly luminous as the moon won't be visible when they arrive. Here's how to catch a view of the celestial delight. What is the best time to see the Eta Aquariids meteor shower? The good thing is this particular meteor shower not only happens every year, but spans multiple days. McElroy said Wednesday 7 May would be the 'best day' for stargazers, with around two dozen meteors expected to pass per hour. But if it happens to be cloudy that day, you won't blink and miss it. The shower will continue to have a strong showing on the days preceding and following 7 May, before tapering off at the end of the month. 'Often these things are quite short-lived … it'll peak this week but it will continue,' McElroy said. Unfortunately, though, the best viewing window is between 3am and 5am – 'not for the faint-hearted or those who feel the cold'. If you happen to find yourself awake in the early dawn, though, you're in luck. Where can I watch the Eta Aquarrids? The Eta Aquariids can be viewed anywhere in the world, but they are best seen from the southern hemisphere where the shower will rise in the pre-dawn, darkened sky. In Australia, every state and territory will be able to witness the display. But McElroy said areas with the lowest light pollution would have the greatest visibility – such as Uluru and remote parts of the Northern Territory. 'These things aren't enormously bright, so you want to get away from as much light pollution as you can,' McElroy said. 'If you're in the city, get into the suburbs and away from bright lights.' Australia is lucky. McElroy said the best skies she has seen have been in Australia and in Chile because they look towards the centre of the Milky Way. 'In the northern hemisphere, you spend most of the year looking to the outskirts, but our winter happens to have the Milky Way's centre up in sky, and parts of Australia are very dark with a lot of protected [areas], like national parks,' she said. What are the best stargazing tips for how to watch? After heading outside, McElroy said you should first 'check the weather … That's the most important part. If it's cloudy you're not going to see anything, which is the curse of astronomy.' Then, turn off any porch or external lights and look away from bright street lights or your phone – which resets our daytime vision. 'Our eyes have a high dynamic range, and it takes 10 to 20 minutes to adjust to the night sky,' McElroy said. 'Grab a blanket, have a lie down and stay out there for an hour.' The constellation of Aquarius, where the meteors will appear, are in the north-east of the sky. Apps such as Star Mapper or Stellarium can help display the correct spot – but make sure you keep your brightness down. Why does the meteor shower occur? The Eta Aquariids are caused by Earth passing through debris left behind by Halley's Comet hundreds of years ago. Dr Rebecca McElroy, an astrophysicist from the University of Southern Queensland, said Earth passes through the debris field every year. As the bits of rock and dust hit the atmosphere at high speeds, they burn up and create bright streaks – creating what we call meteors. 'Meteors tend to look like a bright streak going by, like a shooting star, but more,' McElroy said. 'Occasionally they happen just randomly – when something of a high density is in our path.' It is known as 'Eta Aquariids' because of the part of the sky in which the meteors appear – which is near the star Eta Aquarii in the constellation of Aquarius.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
When is best time to see Halley's comet - Eta Aquarid meteor shower tonight? How to watch
The Eta Aquarid meteor shower will light up the sky Monday, May 5 with a chance to see pieces of Halley's comet streak through the night sky. Here's what to know and when to watch. The annual Eta Aquarid showers are best known for their fast and bright meteors traveling at speeds of 40.7 miles per second. They are caused by debris left by Halley's comet when Earth passes through its orbit. Eta Aquarids will be the last major meteor shower until the Southern Delta Aquarids and Alpha Capricornids peak simultaneously between July 29 and July 30, according to the American Meteor Society. This year's Eta Aquarid shower could give stargazers the opportunity to see up to 50 meteors per hour pass swiftly across the sky and leaving glowing 'trains' during its peak tonight, according to NASA. Here's what to know about tonight's shooting stars, when and how to watch. When is the Eta Aquarid meteor shower? The Eta Aquarids are active from April 20 to May 21, and are set to peak between May 5-6 in 2025. While approximately 10 meteors per hour may be observed during the night skies between April 20 through May 21, NASA reports up to 50 meteors per hour may be visible during its peak between May 5-6. What is the Eta Aquarid meteor shower? The Eta Aquarids, or Eta Aquariids, is an annual shower of meteors shooting through the night sky as they come into Earth's atmosphere. When comets come around the sun, they leave a dusty trail of particles and bits of broken asteroids, NASA explains, and every year when Earth passes through these debris trails during its orbit, the bits 'collide with its atmosphere where they disintegrate to create fiery and colorful streaks in the sky.' The debris that causes the Eta Aquarid meteor shower originates from comet 1P/Halley, which takes about 76 years to orbit the Sun. The infamous Comet Halley is not expected to enter the inner solar system again until 2061. How to watch the Eta Aquarid meteor shower? To best view the Eta Aquarids, find an area well away from city lights or street lights. On a sleeping bag, blanket or lawn chair, lie flat on your back with your feet facing east and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible, according to NASA. It may take about 30 minutes in the dark for your eyes to adapt and then you will begin to see meteors. It will be an all-night show of spectacular shooting stars. This article originally appeared on When to see Halley's comet? Best time to watch meteor shower tonight
The Guardian
06-05-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
What is the best time to see the Eta Aquariids meteor shower 2025? Where and how can I see it in Australia?
Stargazers and early risers are in for a stellar show this week, with one of the biggest meteor showers in the southern hemisphere due to light up the skies. The meteors — called the Eta Aquariids – pass through the atmosphere every year, but 2025 is due to be particularly luminous as the moon won't be visible when they arrive. Here's how to catch a view of the celestial delight. The good thing is this particular meteor shower not only happens every year, but spans multiple days. McElroy said Wednesday 7 May would be the 'best day' for stargazers, with around two dozen meteors expected to pass per hour. But if it happens to be cloudy that day, you won't blink and miss it. The shower will continue to have a strong showing on the days preceding and following 7 May, before tapering off at the end of the month. 'Often these things are quite short-lived … it'll peak this week but it will continue,' McElroy said. Unfortunately, though, the best viewing window is between 3am and 5am – 'not for the faint-hearted or those who feel the cold'. If you happen to find yourself awake in the early dawn, though, you're in luck. The Eta Aquariids can be viewed anywhere in the world, but they are best seen from the southern hemisphere where the shower will rise in the pre-dawn, darkened sky. In Australia, every state and territory will be able to witness the display. But McElroy said areas with the lowest light pollution would have the greatest visibility – such as Uluru and remote parts of the Northern Territory. 'These things aren't enormously bright, so you want to get away from as much light pollution as you can,' McElroy said. 'If you're in the city, get into the suburbs and away from bright lights.' Australia is lucky. McElroy said the best skies she has seen have been in Australia and in Chile because they look towards the centre of the Milky Way. 'In the northern hemisphere, you spend most of the year looking to the outskirts, but our winter happens to have the Milky Way's centre up in sky, and parts of Australia are very dark with a lot of protected [areas], like national parks,' she said. After heading outside, McElroy said you should first 'check the weather … That's the most important part. If it's cloudy you're not going to see anything, which is the curse of astronomy.' Then, turn off any porch or external lights and look away from bright street lights or your phone – which resets our daytime vision. 'Our eyes have a high dynamic range, and it takes 10 to 20 minutes to adjust to the night sky,' McElroy said. 'Grab a blanket, have a lie down and stay out there for an hour.' The constellation of Aquarius, where the meteors will appear, are in the north-east of the sky. Apps such as Star Mapper or Stellarium can help display the correct spot – but make sure you keep your brightness down. The Eta Aquariids are caused by Earth passing through debris left behind by Halley's Comet hundreds of years ago. Dr Rebecca McElroy, an astrophysicist from the University of Southern Queensland, said Earth passes through the debris field every year. As the bits of rock and dust hit the atmosphere at high speeds, they burn up and create bright streaks – creating what we call meteors. 'Meteors tend to look like a bright streak going by, like a shooting star, but more,' McElroy said. 'Occasionally they happen just randomly – when something of a high density is in our path.' It is known as 'Eta Aquariids' because of the part of the sky in which the meteors appear – which is near the star Eta Aquarii in the constellation of Aquarius. There are four meteor showers similar to Eta Aquariids which occur throughout the year – most notably, the Orionids meteor shower, which is also caused by the Halley's Comet debris trail and happens in October. But McElroy said meteor showers can also be a great gateway to look at the rest of the sky. 'A meteor shower is great, but we are blessed with fantastic skies in Australia, especially in the winter,' she said. 'We will be able to see whole band of Milky Way, and if you stay outside for longer, you'll see more and more fainter stars light up. You can look for the Southern Cross, spot some star clusters or the Emu constellation. 'Come for the meteors, stay for the Milky Way.'
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.
