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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.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Lyrid meteor shower 2025 peaks this month: Could we be in for a surprise outburst this year?
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. After a lull of some three and a half months, enthusiasts who watch the night sky specifically for "shooting" or "falling" stars will have something to look forward to this month. It will be the return of a faithful meteor shower, recognized as one of, if not the oldest known meteor display: the Lyrid meteors. While there are many dozens of meteor showers that occur during the course of the year, only ten are recognized as the 'principal' or very best meteor displays. The last such shower to take place was the Quadrantids back on Jan. 3. But since then, there have been no other noteworthy meteor showers to look for so far this year. That will change soon thanks to the Lyrid meteor shower. Dutch-American meteor expert Peter Jenniskens refers to the Lyrids as "The proverbial swallow of spring for observers in the northern hemisphere." This, he adds, follows "the low meteor rates in the cold months of February and March." This is a good year for observing the annual Lyrid meteor shower. Its peak should come on Tuesday morning, April 22, when moonlight will pose little interference. This year, the moon will be in a waning crescent phase, only 36 percent illuminated and will not rise until around 3:30 a.m. local daylight time. But although the Lyrids are a reliable meteor display, they nonetheless come with a disclaimer: They are often elusive; their surge of activity usually lasts just a few hours at most. According to the 2025 Meteor Shower Calendar of the International Meteor Organization (IMO), the time of maximum activity is anticipated to come at around 1330 Universal Time (UTC) or 9:30 a.m. ET. This is based on results collected from observations spanning the years 1988 to 2000. That predicted time would favor those living in Hawaii where predawn skies will be dark, as opposed to the contiguous U.S. where the sun will have already risen. However, in more recent years the time for the Lyrid peak has been more variable and if applied to this year, it might come as early as 10:30 UT to as late as 18:00 UT. If the former time rings true this year, it would mean that those living in the Mountain and Pacific time zones of the western U.S. would have an advantage in that the peak would come before the start of morning twilight. The meteors appear to radiate from around the brilliant star Vega in the constellation of Lyra the Lyre (hence the name "Lyrids"). Any meteor whose path, extended backward, comes within a few degrees of Vega is likely to be a Lyrid. While hardly a rich display — at their peak, one may be expected to average a meteor sighting about every three to five minutes; they're considered to be one of the weaker of the principal displays — Lyrid meteors are categorized as very bright and fairly fast. You can start watching for them beginning around midnight when Vega will be situated about one-third up in the east-northeast sky. When the first light of dawn is about to break at around 4:30 a.m., Vega has climbed to a position very high — almost overhead — above the eastern horizon. The Lyrids are also known for occasional surprises. There are a number of historic records of meteor displays believed to be Lyrids, notably in 687 B.C. and 15 B.C. in China (where records say "stars fell like rain"), and A.D. 1136 in Korea when "many stars flew from the northeast." On April 20, 1803, many townspeople in Richmond, Virginia, were roused from their beds by a fire alarm and were able to observe a very rich Lyrid display between 1 and 3 o'clock. The meteors "seemed to fall from every point in the heavens in such numbers as to resemble a shower of skyrockets." That stupendous Lyrid shower of 1803 was completely unexpected, primarily because very little was known about meteors in the 18th and early 19th centuries. But in 1867 Austrian astronomer, Edmund Weiss, and German astronomer, Johann Gottfried Galle made independent calculations that demonstrated that the progenitor of the Lyrid meteors is due to the cosmic dross that was left behind in the wake of Comet Thatcher, which circles the sun in a roughly 415-year orbit and was last seen in the spring of 1861. More recently, a brief outburst of about 90 per hour was seen in 1922. And then from Japan, 112 meteors (most of them were Lyrids) were seen in 67 minutes on April 22, 1945. Then, in 1982, the hourly rate unexpectedly reached 90 for a single hour and 180 to 300 for a few minutes. So maybe it wouldn't hurt to set the alarm clock for 3 or 4 a.m. on Tuesday morning, for a brief look out the window. Hey ... you never know. Normally this shower is above one-quarter peak strength two days before and after maximum, so if the weather in your area is unsettled on the morning of the 22nd, you still have a chance to catch a few Lyrids a day or two before or after the time of their peak activity. In addition to the Lyrids, there is also a possibility — albeit quite small — of sighting a brilliant fireball meteor that perhaps is even capable of dropping a meteorite. This declaration is based on two coincidences dating back to the 1960s. A shadow-casting fireball that passed over northern New Jersey on April 23, 1962, and an exploding meteor (bolide) seen on April 25, 1969 over England, Wales and Northern Ireland and dropped a nearly 10-pound (5 kg) stony meteorite. Both fireballs apparently have much in common. After orbital computations were made both in the U.S., and Great Britain, it was discovered that these dazzling meteors had remarkably similar orbits and had possibly originated either in the asteroid belt, or as perhaps the debris from an unknown short-period comet. Some astronomers believe that there might be a sparse stream of meteoroids which Earth might encounter during the final week of April. Some of these chunks of stone just might give rise to associated fireballs and perhaps even meteorite falls. RELATED STORIES: — Meteor showers 2025: When, where and how to see the best 'shooting stars' of the year — Meteor showers and shooting stars: Formation and history — Lyrid meteor shower 2025: When, where & how to see it Both the 1962 and 1969 fireballs emanated from a part of the sky near the constellation Corvus the Crow, which is composed of four moderately bright stars in the shape of a quadrilateral. Corvus can be found at nightfall about one-quarter up in the south-southeast part of the sky. It crosses the meridian shortly after 11 p.m. local daylight time and sets in the west-southwest around 4 a.m. So, if you're out and about during the overnight hours of April 23-24 and/or 24-25, be vigilant. If you're very lucky and nature is in a show-off mood, you just might catch sight of an outstandingly bright meteor blazing a south-to-north path across the night sky. Want to try and capture the Lyrids on camera? See our guides on how to photograph meteors and meteor showers the best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography. 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.
