Halley’s Comet waves near the Earth every 75 years. However, the fragments left by the comet lead to two major meteor showers each year.
As the meteor shower illuminates the night sky, “you’ll see that Earth is crossing the path of the most famous comet,” said Shauna Edson of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
NASA’s Bill Cook says that ETA Aquarido is a “very fast meteor.”
At peak Tuesday morning, we expect to see 10-15 meteors per hour under ideal viewing conditions, Cook said.
However, the moon is filled with almost two-thirds, which can reduce visibility.
Viewing will continue until May 28th. Things you need to know about ETA Aquarido and other meteor showers.
A big meteor briefly lit up southern Norway on Sunday.
What is a Meteor Shower?
When Earth orbits the Sun, it passes through fragments left behind by passing through comets and sometimes asteroids several times a year. The source of the ETA aquarido is a fragment from Halley’s comet.
As these rapidly moving space rocks enter the Earth’s atmosphere, the fragments encounter new resistance from the air, becoming extremely hot and eventually burning.
Sometimes the surrounding air glows for a short time, leaving a fiery tail – the edge of the “shooting star.”
You don’t need any special equipment to see the various meteor showers that flash each year, away from the city’s lighting.
How to view the Meteor Shower
The best time to see meteor showers is early when the moon is held at a low time in the sky.
Competing light sources, such as bright moons and artificial glows, are the main obstacles to the clear field of vision of meteors. A cloudless night with a small moon is the perfect opportunity to watch.
And keep looking up. If you haven’t checked your phone, your eyes are good to find a shooting star.
When will the next meteor shower be?
The next major meteor shower, the South Delta Aquarido, peaks in late July.
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The Associated Press School of Health Sciences is supported by the Science and Education Media Group at Howard Hughes Medical Institutions. AP is solely responsible for all content.
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