How to catch the Eta Aquarid meteor shower, debris of Halley's comet

Halley's comet swings adjacent Earth each 75 years. But debris near by the comet leads to 2 large meteor showers each twelvemonth including the Eta Aquarids.

When this meteor ablution lights up the nighttime sky, “you'll cognize that Earth is crossing the way of the astir famous comet,” said Shauna Edson of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum.

The Eta Aquarids are “pretty accelerated meteors” said NASA's Bill Cooke.

During Tuesday morning’s peak, expect to spot 10 to 15 meteors per hr successful perfect viewing conditions, said Cooke.

However, the satellite volition beryllium astir two-thirds full, which volition apt trim visibility.

Viewing lasts until May 28. Here’s what to cognize astir the Eta Aquarids and different meteor showers.

What is simply a meteor shower?

As the Earth orbits the sun, respective times a twelvemonth it passes done debris near by passing comets and sometimes asteroids. The root of the Eta Aquarids is debris from Halley's comet.

When these fast-moving abstraction rocks participate Earth’s atmosphere, the debris encounters caller absorption from the aerial and becomes precise hot, yet burning up.

Sometimes the surrounding aerial glows briefly, leaving down a fiery process — the extremity of a “shooting star.”

You don’t request peculiar instrumentality to spot the assorted meteor showers that flash crossed annually, conscionable a spot distant from metropolis lights.

How to presumption a meteor shower

The champion clip to ticker a meteor ablution is successful the aboriginal predawn hours erstwhile the satellite is debased successful the sky.

Competing sources of airy — specified arsenic a agleam satellite oregon artificial glow — are the main obstacles to a wide presumption of meteors. Cloudless nights erstwhile the satellite wanes smallest are optimal viewing opportunities.

And support looking up, not down. Your eyes volition beryllium amended adapted to spot shooting stars if you aren’t checking your phone.

When is the adjacent meteor shower?

The adjacent large meteor shower, the Southern Delta Aquarids, peaks successful precocious July.

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