Then this came to mind, from IMDB: "After an unusual meteor shower leaves most of the human population blind, a merchant navy officer must find a way to conquer tall, aggressive plants which are feeding on people and animals." 
Posted on 05/06/2017 12:23:25 AM PDT by BenLurkin
Eta Aquarids have a most interesting lineage. Unlike some of the other annual meteor displays 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 constellation of Aquarius. Then in 1876, professor Alexander Stewart Herschel pointed out that the orbit of Halley’s comet nearly coincided with Earth's orbit around May 4, and that if we encountered any comet debris capable of producing meteors, those streaks of light would appear to dart from the vicinity of Aquarius. [Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower 2017: How to See It]
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 Halley's comet and the Eta Aquarid stream. In fact, we now know that Halley also gives rise to another noteworthy meteor shower in late October known as the Orionids.
Like other comets, Halley's is a cosmic litterbug; about every three-quarters of a century as it sweeps closest to the sun, it leaves a "river of rubble" in its wake along its orbit. When the Earth interacts with that rubble river, those comet bits race through our atmosphere at high speeds to produce the effect of "shooting stars."
The material that the comet releases into space on its way in toward the sun produces the October Orionids, 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...
I am up but light pollution pretty much kills my view (assuming I even knew where to look).
Thanks for the reminder. I went outside, saw one, came back in.
I wonder how much of that Halley debris is water ice.
Because of your comment, I went out to see and saw none but blundered into the passing of the international space station, instead. Visible in the South Eastern to Eastern sky for quite a few minutes. Verified with my favorite astronomy site http://heavens-above.com
I saw what I thought might have been the space station but I’m not sure. Thanks for the website.
Somebody get Randall Carlson!
The only thing I’ve been seeing in the sky for the past week, is RAIN!
How delightful ... an article written that actually answers the question that logically arises from the earlier paragraphs. Like, gee how does a comet cause two meteor showers as it circles the solar system. Kudos to Joe Rao.
Nice excerpting too, Ben.
At least seeding the atmosphere?
I've been getting a lot of light rain, with even a chance of snow predicted for Tuesday.
Don't know when to expect a clear sky again. Thursday, maybe?
And lots of it too.
You can get email alerts for when the ISS is overhead:
https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/home.cfm
You might like to check this site for Iridium Flares in your neighborhood. These have a very narrow path and can be the brightest object in the sky after the sun & moon. Don’t last very long.
Too much. I’ve been getting flash flood and flood warnings on my phone all week.
Have some blue sky at the moment and they claim it will be clear until Tuesday, when rain comes in for another 5 days.
I remember reading that in the early 1900s, the earth would pass through the comet tail, and Haley’s Comet was supposed to kill everyone on earth. It was settled science!
Some enterprising persons started selling “gas masks” to keep you alive, and cartoonists had a field day.
What happened!
Then this came to mind, from IMDB: "After an unusual meteor shower leaves most of the human population blind, a merchant navy officer must find a way to conquer tall, aggressive plants which are feeding on people and animals."
I almost prefer to watch the ISS because the thrill is much longer. A brief flash doen’t do it for me and you are right you have to know where to look and when or you miss it.
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