All posts tagged: meteor

How to Watch the Spectacular Quadrantids Meteor Shower Tonight

How to Watch the Spectacular Quadrantids Meteor Shower Tonight

Published by skeptic

The Orionids typically yield about 20 to 25 meteors per hour during their peak and are known for being particularly bright—many of the Orionids are fireball meteors. Like the Eta Aquariids, the Orionids are also debris left behind by Halley’s Comet. The Orionids appear to radiate from the constellation Orion, which rises around 11 pm local time and is highest in the sky just before dawn. The new moon falls on the night of October 21–22, and in the surrounding week the moon will set well before midnight, so you will have perfect viewing conditions to see this meteor shower. The Leonids (November–December) The Leonids are active from about November 3 to December 2. They have a sharp peak, producing the most meteors overnight from November 16 to November 17, according to the American Meteor Society. Other organizations, however, predict that this shower will peak from November 17 to November 18. During the Leonids’ peak, you can expect to see about 15 meteors per hour under dark skies. Although the Leonids produce fewer meteors than …

Severe Solar Storm Creates Stunning Auroras During Meteor Shower

Severe Solar Storm Creates Stunning Auroras During Meteor Shower

Published by José

“Does it get any better?” Bad Turns Good Looks like the Sun is having another one of its outbursts again, because it just blasted us with a severe geomagnetic storm that crackled through our planet’s magnetic field. The Space Weather Prediction Center said it detected the solar event on Monday morning when it was classified as a severe G4 level storm — the second most intense kind. By that same afternoon, the event eventually weakened to a G2-level storm — but not before zapping our skies with absolutely stunning auroras. Now, observers the world over — not to mention off-world — are sharing the magical glimpses they got of these incredible light displays, which just so happened to coincide with the year’s best meteor shower. We’re in the middle of an intense geomagnetic storm! 🌎🧲💥 A series of solar eruptions arriving at Earth are triggering widespread auroras. Here’s what NASA space weather analyst Carina Alden saw last night as she traveled through Michigan and Wisconsin! https://t.co/KG5pvCdyit pic.twitter.com/qrpdkva4Vj — NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) August 12, …

Perseid meteor shower: Where and how to watch up to 100 shooting stars an hour | UK News

Perseid meteor shower: Where and how to watch up to 100 shooting stars an hour | UK News

Published by Sam

Stargazers across the UK are in for a stellar treat as the “best meteor shower of the year” is set to peak tonight. The spectacular Perseid shower may offer up to 100 meteors, also known as shooting stars, every hour as it peaks on the night going into 13 August. The Perseid has been recurring for centuries as it is the result of Earth passing through a cloud of dust left behind Comet Swift-Tuttle. As that debris hits the atmosphere, it burns up, leaving bright trails behind it in the sky. Perseids – named after Perseus, the constellation the meteors are believed to originate from – are also known for their fireballs, with larger explosions of light and colour which can stay on for longer than the average meteor streak. NASA has described the Perseid as the “best meteor shower of the year”. How to watch Perseid To make the most of the glorious spectacle, experts say observers should avoid well-lit and built-up areas and try to find unobstructed views. Daniel Brown, associate professor in …

How to see the Eta Aquarid meteor shower in 2024

How to see the Eta Aquarid meteor shower in 2024

Published by skeptic

It’s May and it’s getting warm (in the Northern Hemisphere). At a time like this, the Eta Aquarid meteor shower is a great excuse to look up at the night sky. This year’s shower peaks close to the new moon — the opposite of a full moon — which is ideal. Dark skies mean better viewing conditions, which will come as a relief to anyone who tried to catch this show last year when a dazzling full moon filled the sky with light, making meteor viewing next to impossible. These conditions also contrast nicely with the Lyrid meteor shower last month, during which a nearly full waxing gibbous moon may have ruined your attempt to make a wish on a shooting star. When to watch the Eta Aquarids in 2024 The Eta Aquarids produce a long show, with activity from April 15 to May 27 this year. However, if you’re only looking up once, plan to do it during the show’s period of peak activity on the night of May 4 and into the wee …

How to watch the Eta Aquariid meteor shower this weekend | Science & Tech News

How to watch the Eta Aquariid meteor shower this weekend | Science & Tech News

Published by skeptic

Meteors will be streaking across the sky this weekend as Earth passes through the debris of Halley’s Comet. The annual Eta Aquariid meteor shower peaks on Sunday night into Monday morning but should be visible, weather-permitting, all weekend. Where to watch the show You should see the meteors low in the sky if you look to the east before dawn. They are more easily visible in the southern hemisphere but you can still spot them in the UK. Of course, your stargazing may depend on the weather. This weekend, it is very unsettled. The Met Office says its “computer models are disagreeing” about where will see the worst weather around the UK. Their cloud cover map currently suggests southern England will have the clearest night on Saturday, however, and most of Wales will have the best chance on Sunday. If you spot clear skies, head out before dawn and settle in. “Hunting for meteors, like the rest of astronomy, is a waiting game,” says the Royal Observatory Greenwich’s site. “It’s best to bring a comfy …

Explainer-The Eta Aquariid meteor shower: When is it and what to expect?

Explainer-The Eta Aquariid meteor shower: When is it and what to expect?

Published by skeptic

Meteors will be streaking across the sky as Earth passes through dusty debris in space left by Halley’s Comet in the annual Eta Aquariid meteor shower, with peak activity in early May. Here is an explanation of this meteor shower. WHAT IS A METEOR? Meteors are space rocks and other material that burn up as they plummet through Earth’s atmosphere, leaving a bright streak in the sky. They also are called shooting stars or falling stars, though they are not stars. Comets can be a source of meteor showers because they cast off dust and debris as they orbit the sun. Meteor showers happen annually or at regular intervals when our planet, during its orbit of the sun, journeys through trails of such debris. WHY IS IT CALLED THE ETA AQUARIID METEOR SHOWER? It gets its name because the origination point in the sky – called the radiant – for the debris that burns up in the atmosphere is in the constellation Aquarius – the “water bearer” – and close to Eta Aquarii, one of …

Here’s how to see the Lyrid meteor shower, ‘pink moon’ this week

Here’s how to see the Lyrid meteor shower, ‘pink moon’ this week

Published by skeptic

Skygazers, time is running out on the latest celestial show: the Lyrid meteor shower and a full “pink moon” that’s not actually pink. The Lyrids, one of the oldest meteor showers, typically peak during late April, according to NASA. Lyrids don’t leave behind glowing dust trains but can occasionally produce fireballs. The Lyrids are best seen in the Northern Hemisphere after the moon sets and before dawn, according to NASA. The shower was most active Sunday night through Monday morning, but it will still be visible through April 29, according to the American Meteor Society April’s full moon, known as the “pink moon,” will crest at its full phase Tuesday at 4:49 p.m. Pacific, but will appear full through Thursday morning, according to NASA. The moon will not turn pink or even look pink; instead, the moniker comes from a ground-covering plant, moss pink, that’s among the earliest bloomers in the spring. Another meteor shower, the Eta Aquarids, is also active between April 15 and May 27, according to Space.com. The peak will fall on …

Lyrid meteor shower: How UK stargazers can watch the oldest annual meteor shower | Science & Tech News

Lyrid meteor shower: How UK stargazers can watch the oldest annual meteor shower | Science & Tech News

Published by skeptic

Parts of the UK are being treated to a dazzling display as the oldest annual meteor shower known to man streaks through the Earth’s atmosphere. The Lyrid meteor shower peaks during late April every year and was first spotted in 687 BC by Chinese stargazers. This particular display is known for its fast and bright meteors and produces around 18 an hour. How to watch the Lyrid meteor shower The moon is nearly full tonight and will be Spring’s ‘pink moon’, which sadly looks the same as any other full moon. The brightness of the moon means you’ll need to watch more carefully to see the shower. NASA recommends watching during the ‘dark hours’ after the moon has set and before the sun has risen. For the UK, that’ll be around 5am. Image: Lyrid meteors fall through the sky at the Bathing House near Howick, Northumberland on 22 April 2020. Pic: PA Clouds have long thwarted stargazers and for parts of the UK, tonight will be no different. The best places to watch the shower …

The Lyrids meteor shower is peaking. Here’s how to enjoy it with a bright moon

The Lyrids meteor shower is peaking. Here’s how to enjoy it with a bright moon

Published by skeptic

A Leonid fireball is shown during the storm of 1966 in the sky above Wrightwood, Calif. NASA/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption NASA/Getty Images A Leonid fireball is shown during the storm of 1966 in the sky above Wrightwood, Calif. NASA/Getty Images Stargazers can get ready to watch one of the oldest-known meteor showers soon — they’ll just need to find some darkness from a nearly full moon. The Lyrids meteor shower is active until April 29 and is predicted to peak overnight from Sunday into Monday, according to the American Meteor Society. It’s best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere, the group says. Views throughout the night will change as Lyra, the constellation from which the shower radiates and gets its name, moves through the sky. Lyra hangs high at dawn so that will be a better time to view, the AMS says. The nearly full moon over the weekend will make it more difficult to see the meteor shower, but viewers can still see some, and it always helps to make the sky you’re …