Posted on 05/03/2020 9:11:21 PM PDT by BenLurkin
This year, the Eta Aquarids meteor shower runs April 19th to May 28th, peaking May 5th just before morning twilight.
The Eta Aquarids are visible all across the globe but are more pronounced in the Southern Hemisphere sky. It is there that the Eta Aquarids can produce up to 20 to 40 meteors per hour. In the mid-northern latitudes, the count is closer to 10 meteors per hour.
There is an opportunity to see a few meteors late evening (post-sunset on May 4th) as this is when “earthgrazers” are best seen. Earthgrazers tend to be fewer in quantity but are known to make exceptionally long streaks in the sky. As night falls, the streaks tend to get shorter, but the meteors become more numerous.
You’ll want to look towards the southeast sky at the constellation Aquarius. The ‘radiant’, or the point at which the meteors seem to radiate from, is in front of this constellation and nearly aligns with the faint star Eta Aquarii. This is where the meteor shower gets its name.
The one snag in this year’s viewing conditions may be the bright waxing gibbous moon, over 80% full on May 5th (true full moon will appear May 7th). In order to maximize your viewing potential, be sure to get away from as much light pollution as possible (out of the city).
For more on the Eta Aquarids meteor shower, visit EarthSky.org
(Excerpt) Read more at kxan.com ...
Thanks for the heads up. Every time anyone post news of these events I get a storm and can’t see crap. But my pasture can use the rain. Hope you enjoy the event. I’ll enjoy the rain.
I like his music.
That’s interesting because Halley’s comet (which last came by the inner solar system in 1986) is pretty close to its maximum distance from the Sun now, somewhere out around the orbit of Uranus. So these particles have really socially distanced themselves from the parent.
I went out at 5 am today and witnessed 20 + lights headed from s to n and sw to n.
Not sure if they were satellites or UFOs but WOW! They were about 10 seconds apart and when one disappeared, another appeared going in the same direction.
Also did see a couple of shooting stars/meteors that were quick flashes in the sky.
Check out findstarlink.com. Starlink satellite visibility chart.
SpaceX Starlink Satellites....
I will try to remember to look this evening. I don't think I have ever managed to see a meteor.
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