Latest news with #Orionids
05-05-2025
- Science
Eta Aquarids meteor shower to peak Monday night: How to watch
A meteor shower known for the speed of its shooting stars is expected to peak on Monday, according to astronomers. The Eta Aquarids -- a meteor shower that originates from Halley's Comet -- have been active since April 20. But stargazers can witness maximum activity of the Eta Aquarids Monday night into early Tuesday morning, according to the American Meteor Society. At its peak, the Eta Aquarids can release up to 50 meteors per hour, according to NASA. They are also sometimes nicknamed "Earthgrazers," because they are long meteors that appear to skim the surface of Earth's horizon, according to NASA. They are "swift meteors that produce a high percentage of persistent trains," but produce very little fireballs, according to AMS. The Eta Aquarids are also known for their speed, traveling nearly 41 miles per second through the atmosphere. The best time to see the meteors are before dawn, according to NASA. Viewers in the Southern Hemisphere have a better view of the Eta Aquarids, but they are visible from both hemispheres. To find them, look toward Aquarius, where the radiance of the Eta Aquarids appears to originate from. The moon will around 60% full, so the lunar light likely won't drown out visibility. Visibility will be spotty in some parts of the U.S., forecasts show. Rain will be sweeping across much of the Northeast during the pre-dawn hours. The eastern Great Lakes into portions of the Ohio River Valley will see scattered showers and mostly cloudy skies, as will much of Texas -- with the addition of thunderstorms. There will also be visibility issues across the Rockies and western Plains, along with a chance of rain, forecasts show. However, the peak of the Eta Aquarids can extend out several days, presenting more opportunities for viewings with an elevated number of shooting stars when skies are clearer. The Eta Aquarids will be active until May 28, according to AMS. The dust fragments from Comet Halley appear as the Orionids in October if they collide with Earth's atmosphere, according to NASA. For best viewing, NASA advises spectators to lie flat on their back in a region away from light pollution. Meteors should be visible after about 30 minutes, when eyes adjust to the dark.
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
New York Post
05-05-2025
- Science
- New York Post
The Eta Aquarids meteor shower is back – here's how to see the peak of Halley's Comet debris
It's gonna be a blast! The Eta Aquarids meteor shower is back and about to peak for a dazzling show. 4 The Eta Aquarids meteor shower is back this spring. Benedict – Advertisement The Eta Aquarids get their name from the bright star Eta Aquarii in the constellation Aquarius, as the meteors appear to radiate from this point in the sky. These meteors are fast-moving and often leave bright streaks across the night sky, visible to the naked eye for anywhere from several seconds to minutes. They are known for their moderate to high activity levels, with an average of 20 to 30 meteors per hour during the peak — but ideal viewing conditions can reveal even more. Advertisement The Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks during early May every year. The meteors are expected to be active this year from April 20 to May 21 and appear most densely the night of May 5 into the morning hours of May 6. '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,' Bill Cooke, who leads NASA's Meteoroid Environments Office, said to NASA. 4 The Eta Aquarids get their name from the bright star Eta Aquarii in the constellation Aquarius, as the meteors appear to radiate from this point in the sky. Miguel – They can be seen from both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Advertisement This shower is one of two meteor showers associated with Halley's Comet — the other being the Orionids in October. What is Halley's comet? Halley's comet is a periodic comet that appears in Earth's sky roughly once every 76 years. The starry spectacular has been observed for hundreds of years, and is the only comet visible to the naked eye from Earth that can appear twice in a human lifetime. 4 These meteors are fast-moving and often leave bright streaks across the night sky visible to the naked eye for anywhere from several seconds to minutes. AP Advertisement Halley's Comet orbits the Sun, traveling from the outer reaches of the solar system to the inner solar system and back, leaving a trail of debris in its wake. This debris is responsible for the meteor showers associated with the comet, like the Eta Aquarids and the Orionids. When is the next meteor shower? The next meteor shower is the Eta Aquarids, which is expected to peak on May 5. Following the Eta Aquarids, the next major meteor shower is the Perseids, which typically peak in mid-August. 4 The meteors are expected to be active this year from April 20 to May 21 and peak the night of May 5 into the morning hours of May 6. REUTERS What causes a meteor shower? A meteor shower happens when Earth passes through a trail of debris left behind by a comet. As a comet orbits the Sun, it sheds small particles of dust and ice, creating a debris field along its path. When Earth intersects this path, the particles, called meteoroids, enter Earth's atmosphere at high speeds and burn up due to friction with the air. This process creates the bright streaks of light we see as meteors. Depending on the size of the particles, some meteor showers can produce impressive displays, with dozens or even hundreds of meteors visible per hour.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
What time can you see the Aquarids meteor shower? Where is it visible? What to know
The third major meteor shower of the year is about to hit its peak this week, sending a cascade of "shooting stars" streaking across the night sky. And stargazers may want to make sure they catch a glimpse of the ETA Aquarids, which will be most active for two nights in a row this week. The Aquarids – sometimes spelled as "Aquariids" – not only follow closely on the heels of the Lyrid meteors less than two weeks ago, but 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. 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 – first during the ETA Aquarids in May and then again during the Orionids every October. Here's everything to know about the ETA Aquarids meteor shower, including when to see it during its peak. 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. 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. Conditions look to be relatively ideal for viewing the Aquarids on both nights of the meteor shower's peak activity. Even the moon will be cooperating. Though Earth's natural satellite is in a waxing phase and will be more than 60% full on the peak nights, it should set plenty of hours before dawn to leave spectators with dark skies that will reveal the meteors. The National Weather Service shared graphics showing the cloud forecast across the U.S. overnight for both Monday and Tuesday. While the Aquarids should pretty much be visible around the globe anywhere in the sky, 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. This particular meteor shower occurs when Earth passes through the dusty debris trail left by one of the most famous comets of them all: Halley's Comet. The debris of Halley's Comet also causes the Orionids every October as its debris disintegrates in Earth's atmosphere to create the fiery, colorful meteors – known colloquially as "shooting stars." 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: Aquarids meteor shower 2025: When and where to see it, cloud forecast
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.
