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Time of India
30-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
25 Meteors Every Hour? Skywatchers Gear Up for Twin Showers on July 29–30
If you're someone who loves spending time under the stars, this might be the moment you've been waiting for. Two meteor showers — the Southern Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids — are expected to peak between July 29 and the early hours of July 30, offering a spectacular sky show with up to 25 meteors per hour in ideal conditions. According to forecasts by the American Meteor Society and the International Meteor Organization, this rare celestial overlap comes with nearly perfect viewing conditions — no bright Moon, calm skies, and a wide viewing window. If you're in a dark, open area with clear weather, you could catch some of the best meteors of the season. Why tonight stands out It's not very common for two meteor showers to peak on the same night– and what makes tonight even better is that there's no moonlight to get in the way. Out of the two showers, the Southern Delta Aquariids will likely put on the bigger show, with around 20 meteors per hour. The Alpha Capricornids won't produce as many, but they're known for bright, slow-moving fireballs that are easy to spot– even if you're not a regular skywatcher. Where these meteors come from These aren't random sparks in the sky– they're bits of cosmic dust and debris left behind by ancient comets. As Earth moves through these leftover trails, the particles burn up in our atmosphere, appearing as meteors. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The Southern Delta Aquariids are linked to Comet 96P/Machholz, while the Alpha Capricornids are believed to come from Comet 169P/NEAT. Best time and way to watch tonight Though activity began in mid‑July, the widely visible peak falls between July 29–30. The Southern Delta Aquariids peak is broad, offering good visibility for several nights around this window. Here's how to make the most of it: Head out after midnight, ideally between 2 AM and 4 AM Face the southern sky, especially if you're watching from India or other parts of the Northern Hemisphere Find a dark, open spot– far from streetlights or buildings Give your eyes at least 20–30 minutes to adjust to the darkness Avoid using your phone while watching to maintain your night vision The sky show continues– even after tonight If it's cloudy where you are or you just can't step out tonight, don't worry– you still have time. The Delta Aquariids will stay active until August 12, and the Alpha Capricornids will continue to send out the occasional bright meteor over the next few days. So whether you're really into astronomy or just want to enjoy a quiet moment under the night sky, tonight's a great chance to see two meteor showers at once– and you don't even need a telescope. Images: Canva (for representative purposes only)
Forbes
26-06-2025
- Science
- Forbes
How To See The Bootid Meteor Shower This Friday Night
The Bootid meteor shower reaches its peak on Friday, June 27, 2025. As twilight fades on Friday, June 27, skywatchers may see 'shooting stars' in the night sky as the Bootid meteor shower reaches its peak. A highly variable display, the exact number visible is unknown and could range from just a few per hour to as many as a hundred, according to the BBC. That is no guarantee of seeing shooting stars, but what it lacks in predictability, it makes up for in convenience, with the best potential views possible as soon as it gets dark. Here's everything you need to know about the peak of the Bootid meteor shower this Friday. Meteor Shower: Where And When to Look The best times to catch the Bootid meteor shower are a couple of hours before dawn and after sunset on June 27. The actual peak of the Bootid meteor shower will take place around 07:00 EDT, so the best displays might be seen before dawn on June 27, according to However, the source constellation — known as its radiant point — is the constellation Boötes the Herdsman, which is at its highest in the sky as day turns to night. As dusk turns to night on June 27, the shower is likely to produce its most impressive displays. The exact location of the radiant point is between the bright star Arcturus — the brightest in Boötes — and the star Alkaid at the end of the handle of the Big Dipper, according to the International Meteor Organization. They'll be easy to find high in the western sky. How to find Arcturus and Bootes in the night sky. Meteor Shower: What You'll See In addition to having two opportunities to view the Bootid meteor shower, its timing is favorable. With a new moon earlier this week, the pre-dawn and post-sunset hours are free from strong moonlight. However, if you head outside before it gets dark — about 45 minutes after sunset — and look to the west-northwest, you'll see a 9%-lit crescent moon with the planet Mercury to its lower right. The cause of the Bootid meteor shower is dust and debris left in the inner solar system by comet 7P/Pons-Winnecke, a near-Earth short-period comet that orbits the sun every six years. It will next loop around the sun in August 2027. About 3.2 miles (5.2 kilometers) in diameter, according to NASA, it was first discovered in 1819. Meteor Shower: Observing Tips Since the Bootid meteor shower is so unpredictable, it's best to treat June 27 as merely a great night to go stargazing if the skies are clear, with shooting stars a bonus. A location with an unobstructed view — free from buildings, trees, or hills — is key. You don't need any equipment, just your naked eyes (binoculars or telescopes will significantly reduce your chance of seeing any shooting stars). Sunday, June 29: Moon And Mars In Conjunction What's Next In The Night Sky There's more going on this week than just a meteor shower. After sunset on Saturday, June 28, a 16%-lit crescent moon will be aligned with the bright star Regulus in Leo and the planet Mars. Come back on Sunday, June 29, and you'll see one of the sky highlights of June 2025 — a 24%-lit crescent moon and Mars just a fifth of a degree apart. For exact timings, use a sunrise and sunset calculator for where you are, Stellarium Web for a sky chart and Night Sky Tonight: Visible Planets at Your Location for positions and rise/set times for planets. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
The Eta Aquariid Meteor Shower Is Just About to Peak
It's time to get outside and look at the night sky: the Eta Aquariid meteor shower is about to peak. Over May 5 to 6, the sky over the southern tropics will rain the most cosmic dust of the annual event, glittering with light as it burns up on atmospheric entry. The shower itself will continue to late May, but not in the same profusion. Now really is the best time to get out and take a look. All you need is somewhere comfy, a clear view of the sky, and the willpower to get out of bed in time to see it. Earth is frequently dusted by meteor showers; they are some of the best shows in the night sky. They're the result of our planet passing through the cloud of debris left behind by an asteroid or comet as it travels its own path around the Sun. Pieces of that leftover comet-or- asteroid detritus smack into Earth's atmosphere, burning as they fall, creating a glowing trail that can be seen with the naked eye. And, since these trails are left around the Sun on Earth's orbital path, the meteor showers they create occur annually. The Eta Aquariids are the debris left by a comet called 1P/Halley, or Halley's Comet, which comes around every 76 years. Its radiant, or place in the sky from which the meteors seem to fall, is close to the constellation of Aquarius. This means the shower will present a strong showing for the Southern Hemisphere, with up to 50 to 60 meteors per hour. The Northern Hemisphere might see some meteors, too, although probably significantly fewer – maybe up to 30 meteors per hour, in the hour just before dawn. The Moon will be 64 percent full during the peak, but that won't pose a problem for meteor visibility: the Moon will set long before the radiant rises. The best time for viewing this display is going to vary depending on where in the world you are. You can check the conditions for your location on Time and Date here. If you don't manage to catch the peak, don't worry – the shower will be strong for the entire week, and continue, albeit on a waning basis, until about May 28. You can also download the International Meteor Organization's 2025 meteor shower calendar to keep ahead of the rest of the year's meteor bonanzas. Happy meteor-watching! 'Super-Earths' May Be Surprisingly Common, Scientists Reveal JWST Confirms Coldest Exoplanet Ever Found, Circling Its Dead Star Defunct Soviet Spacecraft Set to Crash to Earth in Fiery End to 53-Year Orbit
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
The Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks May 6. Here's what to expect from the 'crumbs' of Halley's Comet
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Among the top 10 meteor showers appearing annually, one of the best will be reaching its peak on Tuesday morning (May 6). The Eta Aquarid shower ranks among the top four in terms of overall activity. Because the meteors appear to emanate from a spot on the sky (called the "radiant") in the Water Jar of the Aquarius constellation — hence the name "Aquarids" — their visibility favors prospective skywatchers south of the equator. Indeed, for those living in the Southern Hemisphere (Santiago, Johannesburg Melbourne, Auckland), the Eta Aquarid radiant climbs well up in the predawn eastern sky and it is from there that these meteors appear plentiful. In fact, many southern observers consider this shower to be the best meteor shower of the year. According to the Observer's Handbook of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, the Eta Aquarids are capable of producing as many as 60 meteors per hour, while the Meteor Calendar of the International Meteor Organization (IMO) indicates rates of around 50 per hour. But from more northerly latitudes, the viewing circumstances are not so favorable. Because these meteors appear to radiate from a position low on the eastern horizon for mid-northern latitudes, even under the most favorable conditions, at best, 10 to "maybe" 20 meteors per hour might be seen. In addition, this year you'll also have to take into account a bright moon, just two days past first quarter (a waxing gibbous, 64% illuminated), and it will not set until just after 3:00 a.m. local daylight time, leaving only about an hour of reasonably dark sky for early morning observations of this shower before the increasingly bright dawn twilight becomes too restrictive. "So," you might ask, "What's the point of getting up before dawn to watch?" The answer is that you might still see something spectacular. More on that in a moment. The Eta Aquarids have a most interesting lineage. Unlike some of the other annual meteor showers whose history can be traced back for many centuries, the Eta Aquarids were not "officially" discovered until the late 19th century. In 1870, while sailing in the Mediterranean Sea, Lt. Col. G.L. Tupman sighted 15 meteors on the morning of April 30, and another 13 a few mornings later. All the meteors Tupman sighted appeared to emanate from the Aquarius constellation, the Water Carrier. Then in 1876, professor Alexander Stewart Herschel pointed out that the orbit of Halley's Comet seemed to nearly coincide with the orbit of Earth around May 4, and that if we encountered any comet debris around that time capable of producing meteors, those streaks of light would appear to dart from the vicinity of Aquarius. Herschel immediately noted that Tupman's observations were very close to his prediction. In the years that followed, increasing numbers of other astronomers and observers also noted similarities between the orbits of Comet Halley and the "shooting stars" in early May radiating from Aquarius. About every three-quarters of a century as it sweeps closest to the sun, Halley leaves a "river of rubble" in its wake along its orbit. As you read these words, the comet is 3.28 billion miles (5.29 billion km) from both the Earth and the sun. The last time Halley swept through the inner solar system was in 1986 (it's due back in the summer of 2061), but it has traveled around the sun countless numbers of times over the centuries, each time leaving behind a trail of dust and grit similar in consistency and texture to cigar ash or copier toner — debris that astronomers believe dates back nearly five billion years to the birth of the solar system; primordial material that happens to intersect the orbit of Earth about this time in early May every year. Those pieces that have flaked off its potato-shaped nucleus during previous visits to the sun flare about 62 miles (100 km) above our heads in early May producing the Eta Aquarid meteors. When our planet interacts with that rubble river, those comet bits race through Earth's atmosphere at high speeds: 41 miles (66 km) per second, to produce the shooting star effect. The material that the comet releases into space actually intersects our orbit at two places. On its inbound approach to the sun, it produces the Orionid meteor shower in late October, while the material that is released after the comet has rounded the sun and is heading back to the outer limits of the solar system produces the Eta Aquarids. The brightest Eta Aquarid meteors leave long-lasting trains. But since they are on the outbound leg of their orbits, these meteors arrive mainly in daylight; thus, the nighttime observation interval is short and occurs just before dawn. Earlier, we suggested that even though viewing circumstances for the Eta Aquarids are not the best for viewers in the Northern Hemisphere, you should still make in effort to go out and look during that short "window of opportunity" between 3 and 4 a.m. on May 6. Here's why: For most, perhaps the best hope for seeing the Eta Aquarids is if you happen to catch a glimpse of a member of this meteor swarm as it grazed our atmosphere horizontally — much the same way as a flat rock can be made to skim across the top of a lake or pond. Assiduous meteor observers refer to such meteors as "Earthgrazers," and they have a propensity to produce rather colorful and long-lasting trails. Such meteors also appear to travel across the sky on unusually long paths. RELATED STORIES: — Eta Aquarid meteor shower 2025: Where, when and how to see it — Meteor showers 2025: When, where and how to see the best 'shooting stars' of the year — Night sky for tonight: Visible planets, stars and more in this evening's sky Unfortunately, they also tend to be few and far between. But if you happen to catch sight of just one, it will make your efforts worthwhile. If skies are cloudy on Tuesday morning, be aware that the shower is active for a few days before and after the peak, though meteor rates tend to be only one-half to one-quarter of what you would see at the peak. Try lying on a long lawn chair pointing due south. Keep your eyes moving around and don't stare at any one place ... keep looking all over. If you do spot a long-trailed meteor, keep in mind that you likely will have seen an incandescent streak of light produced by material that originated from the nucleus of Halley's comet; the comet itself is still decades away but no matter. A view of an Eta Aquarid meteor will be your personal encounter with the traces of a famous visitor from the depths of space, and quite possibly the dawn of creation. Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy for Natural History magazine, Sky and Telescope and other publications.
Washington Post
18-04-2025
- Science
- Washington Post
The Lyrid meteor shower will soon peak. Here's when and how to see it.
The Lyrid meteor shower — the second meteor shower on the calendar this year — runs through April 26, peaking on the night of April 21 to 22. An average of 15 or 20 Lyrid meteors per hour may be seen at the peak of the show, which is best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere. In exceptional years, as many as 100 Lyrids per hour have been observed. Because of the timing of a waning crescent moonrise during the predawn April 22, it will probably be easiest to view the meteors during the late evening through early overnight. This is somewhat counter to the typical best views being in the hours before sunrise. Derived from comets, meteor showers acquire their name from a nearby constellation they seem to emanate from. In this case, it is Lyra, the harp. The Lyrids appear to be cast out of the brightest star of the group, called Vega. Also in the northeast evening sky, the Hercules constellation is additionally near the radiant, or apparent point of origin for the meteors. However, sky watchers will want to look at a point somewhat offset from the radiant to catch the brightest and longest trails. 'The Lyrids are a medium strength shower that usually produces good rates for three nights centered on the maximum,' according to the International Meteor Organization. Meteor showers — and the occasional greater outburst of a storm — occur thanks to comets orbiting the sun and leaving a trail of cosmic particles in their wake. The Lyrid meteors occur because of Comet Thatcher, named for the man who discovered it in April 1861. Chinese skywatchers first recorded the event during the 7th century B.C. On our planet's own orbit, we pass through a number of these comet tail clouds every year. When bits of the comet debris within the cloud hit our atmosphere, they burn up and take on the ephemeral appearance of a shooting star. Because the Lyrid meteor stream is rather narrow, the entire event lasts only days, compared with weeks in longer showers later in the year. It is the second of a handful of showers during the year, although not all are visible from both hemispheres. The Eta Aquariids arrive shortly after the Lyrids, peaking in early May, but are best viewed from the southern tropics. The most well-known meteor showers occur in summer and fall. Given the time of year, a battle with clouds may be more common than during the warmest months, but springtime skies tend to also have less haze, which can hamper proper viewing by diffusing light. NASA provides a simple tip for properly taking in the show: 'Lie flat on your back with your feet facing east and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible.' No equipment is needed, other than your eyes. Just ensure your comfort (and perhaps bring some snacks) for a long watch, hit the darkest location you can, and allow a half-hour for your eyes to become properly attuned to the lack of light. If you are viewing in the predawn when the moon is rising, try to view from a moon shadow by blocking its light with tall trees or other similar objects to increase visibility.
