Latest news with #ETAAquarids
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Summer meteor showers underway: When, where to see Perseids, 2 others in US
If it feels like it's been a while since you've been able to watch a stunning meteor shower light up the night sky, you're in luck. Following nearly a two-month "shooting stars" drought, three meteor showers are set to become active concurrently in July. The celestial activity will then hit a crescendo in August with the peak of what is widely considered the best meteor shower of the year: the Perseids. With its whizzing meteors and blazing fireballs, the Perseid meteor shower reliably puts on a spectacle every year for stargazers around the world. Spectators who step outside at just the right time could be treated to up to 100 Perseid meteors per hour streaking across the night sky, leaving long wakes of light and color behind them. But what's the best part of the Perseids? Because they peak in summer, spectators don't have to contend with cold weather like they do when other famous meteor showers such as the Leonids and Geminids hit their peak activity. Stargazers' delight: When and where to view July's major meteor showers. Here's everything to know about the summer's upcoming meteor showers, headlined by the spectacular Perseids. Perseid meteor shower underway: Where, when to look up In 2025, the Perseid meteor shower is expected to become active Thursday, July 17 and remain so until Aug. 23, according to the American Meteor Society. The Perseids are best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere. Once the sun sets and the moon is below the horizon, spectators should only have to contend with local light pollution and clouds that could interfere with the number of meteors they can see. Like all meteor showers, the Perseids are best viewed during the dark hours between midnight and dawn. However, it is possible under the right conditions to view Perseid meteors as early as 10 p.m. ET, according to NASA. When is the next meteor shower? 2 to peak at same time What's more, the Perseids aren't the only meteor shower lighting up the night sky this summer. Both the Southern delta Aquarids and the alpha Capricornids are due to peak at the same time between July 29 and July 30, according to the American Meteor Society. The Capricornids began their activity July 12 and will be followed by the Southern delta Aquarids (also spelled "Aquariids") Friday, July 18. Both meteor showers will remain active until Aug. 12. Unfortunately, neither shower is famed for being very strong. The Southern Delta Aquarids are faint meteors that are difficult enough to spot as it is. But if the moon is visible at all, it will be near impossible, according to NASA. When was the last meteor shower? ETA Aquarids ended in May The string of summer meteor showers are the first in nearly two months since the ETA Aquarids came to an end May 28. The Aquarids, which first became active April 19, peaked between May 5 and May 6 as Earth passed through the densest part of the cosmic debris from the famous Halley's comet. Perseid meteor shower 2025: Here's when activity peaks This year, the Perseids are expected to peak Aug. 12-13. Though the Geminids in December are considered to be one of the strongest and most consistent meteor showers, the Perseids still result in anywhere from 50 to 100 meteors visible per hour under the right conditions. What's more, the Perseid meteor shower gained its reputation for the plentiful whizzing meteors and blazing fireballs it reliably produces each year pretty much around the globe. These large explosions of light and color can persist even longer than an average meteor streak, NASA says. Could the moon interfere with Perseids? Tips for seeing streaking meteors Unfortunately, the Perseid meteor shower is peaking three days after a full moon in 2025. For that reason, a bright waning gibbous moon could outshine the fainter of the streaking meteors and make them more difficult to spot. But for those determined to catch a few of them, NASA has these viewing tips to increase your odds: Find an area distant from city light pollution or street lights. Bring a sleeping bag, blanket, or lawn chair. Lie flat on your back and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible. After about 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors. The website TimeandDate also provides detailed information about where and when to see the phenomenon. What causes the Perseids? Are meteor showers 'shooting stars?' Originating from the constellation Perseus, the Perseids are made up of leftover particles from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. Every year, Earth passes through the comet's debris trail, resulting in the Perseid meteor shower when the broken bits of Swift-Tuttle disintegrates in our atmosphere at high speed – creating fiery and colorful streaks in the sky known colloquially as "shooting stars," according to NASA. Swift-Tuttle, which takes 133 Earth years just to orbit the sun a single time, was discovered to be the source of the Perseids in 1865 by Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli. Discovered in 1862, Swift-Tuttle is absolutely gargantuan – twice the size of the asteroid theorized to have wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Perseid meteor shower tops slate of summer 'shooting stars' Solve the daily Crossword
USA Today
16-07-2025
- Science
- USA Today
Summer meteor showers underway: When, where to see Perseids, 2 others in US
Famed for its fireballs, the Perseid meteor shower is a "can't-miss" event for stargazers around the globe. It's also one of three that become active in July. If it feels like it's been a while since you've been able to watch a stunning meteor shower light up the night sky, you're in luck. Following nearly a two-month "shooting stars" drought, three meteor showers are set to become active concurrently in July. The celestial activity will then hit a crescendo in August with the peak of what is widely considered the best meteor shower of the year: the Perseids. With its whizzing meteors and blazing fireballs, the Perseid meteor shower reliably puts on a spectacle every year for stargazers around the world. Spectators who step outside at just the right time could be treated to up to 100 Perseid meteors per hour streaking across the night sky, leaving long wakes of light and color behind them. But what's the best part of the Perseids? Because they peak in summer, spectators don't have to contend with cold weather like they do when other famous meteor showers such as the Leonids and Geminids hit their peak activity. Stargazers' delight: When and where to view July's major meteor showers. Here's everything to know about the summer's upcoming meteor showers, headlined by the spectacular Perseids. Perseid meteor shower underway: Where, when to look up In 2025, the Perseid meteor shower is expected to become active Thursday, July 17 and remain so until Aug. 23, according to the American Meteor Society. The Perseids are best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere. Once the sun sets and the moon is below the horizon, spectators should only have to contend with local light pollution and clouds that could interfere with the number of meteors they can see. Like all meteor showers, the Perseids are best viewed during the dark hours between midnight and dawn. However, it is possible under the right conditions to view Perseid meteors as early as 10 p.m. ET, according to NASA. When is the next meteor shower? 2 to peak at same time What's more, the Perseids aren't the only meteor shower lighting up the night sky this summer. Both the Southern delta Aquarids and the alpha Capricornids are due to peak at the same time between July 29 and July 30, according to the American Meteor Society. The Capricornids began their activity July 12 and will be followed by the Southern delta Aquarids (also spelled "Aquariids") Friday, July 18. Both meteor showers will remain active until Aug. 12. Unfortunately, neither shower is famed for being very strong. The Southern Delta Aquarids are faint meteors that are difficult enough to spot as it is. But if the moon is visible at all, it will be near impossible, according to NASA. When was the last meteor shower? ETA Aquarids ended in May The string of summer meteor showers are the first in nearly two months since the ETA Aquarids came to an end May 28. The Aquarids, which first became active April 19, peaked between May 5 and May 6 as Earth passed through the densest part of the cosmic debris from the famous Halley's comet. Perseid meteor shower 2025: Here's when activity peaks This year, the Perseids are expected to peak Aug. 12-13. Though the Geminids in December are considered to be one of the strongest and most consistent meteor showers, the Perseids still result in anywhere from 50 to 100 meteors visible per hour under the right conditions. What's more, the Perseid meteor shower gained its reputation for the plentiful whizzing meteors and blazing fireballs it reliably produces each year pretty much around the globe. These large explosions of light and color can persist even longer than an average meteor streak, NASA says. Could the moon interfere with Perseids? Tips for seeing streaking meteors Unfortunately, the Perseid meteor shower is peaking three days after a full moon in 2025. For that reason, a bright waning gibbous moon could outshine the fainter of the streaking meteors and make them more difficult to spot. But for those determined to catch a few of them, NASA has these viewing tips to increase your odds: The website TimeandDate also provides detailed information about where and when to see the phenomenon. What causes the Perseids? Are meteor showers 'shooting stars?' Originating from the constellation Perseus, the Perseids are made up of leftover particles from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. Every year, Earth passes through the comet's debris trail, resulting in the Perseid meteor shower when the broken bits of Swift-Tuttle disintegrates in our atmosphere at high speed – creating fiery and colorful streaks in the sky known colloquially as "shooting stars," according to NASA. Swift-Tuttle, which takes 133 Earth years just to orbit the sun a single time, was discovered to be the source of the Perseids in 1865 by Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli. Discovered in 1862, Swift-Tuttle is absolutely gargantuan – twice the size of the asteroid theorized to have wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Aquarids meteor shower viewing alert: When and where to see shooting stars
The Aquarids, a meteor shower famous for its speedy balls of space debris that streak across the night sky, is due to peak in early May. The ETA Aquarids reliably becomes most active around early May each year as Earth passes through debris left by the famous Halley's comet. Taking place right on the heels of the Lyrid meteor shower, the Aquarids – sometimes spelled as "Aquariids" – are also the last opportunity to catch a meteor shower for a few months before the next one peaks in late July. The Aquarids meteors don't produce bright flashes known as fireballs, but they are famous for being fast and leaving spectacular glowing trails in their wake. Here's everything to know about the ETA Aquarids meteor shower and how to see it in 2025: The Aquarids, which first became active April 19, are due to peak between May 5 and May 6 as Earth passes through the densest part of Halley's cosmic debris, according to the American Meteor Society. While the meteors won't be as bright or dazzling after the peak, stargazers could still catch some up until about May 28. The Aquarids are the third major meteor shower of the year, following the Lyrids earlier in April and the Quadrantids in January. Like all meteor showers, the Aquarids are best viewed during the dark hours between midnight and dawn. The website Time and Date also provides detailed information about where and when to see the phenomenon. The Aquarids should pretty much be visible around the globe anywhere in the sky – assuming clouds and a bright moon don't obscure the view. However, the meteors are best seen from the Southern Hemisphere. That's because the meteors seem to emerge – or radiate – from the constellation Aquarius, which is higher up in the sky in the Southern Hemisphere than it is in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, ETA Aquarid meteors appear as what NASA refers to as "Earthgrazers" – or long meteors that appear to skim the surface of the Earth at the horizon. Getting away from city light pollution and street lights will also help to unveil the best sights. Aquarids meteors whiz across the sky at up to about 40.7 miles per second. That's fast enough to leave a glowing trail of debris behind that can last for several seconds or even multiple minutes, according to NASA. If conditions are right, up to about 50 meteors can be seen per hour during the shower's peak. But north of the equator, the meteor shower typically produces no more than 10 to 30 meteors per hour. Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through dusty debris trails left by comets and other space objects as they orbit the sun. The debris – space rocks known as meteoroids – collides with Earth's atmosphere at high speed and disintegrates, creating fiery and colorful streaks in the sky, according to NASA. The striking celestial sight, which are often colloquially referred to as "shooting stars," are meteors. If meteoroids survive their trip to Earth without burning up in the atmosphere, they are called meteorites, NASA says. The Aquarids' parent comet is perhaps the most famous one of them all: Halley's Comet. Halley, which takes about 76 years for each orbit of the sun, won't be seen again by casual observers until 2061 after it was last sighted in 1986. But despite its rare appearance to us here on Earth, Halley's impact is still felt at least twice a year when we enter its debris path. Each time Halley returns to the inner solar system, its nucleus sheds ice and rocky dust into space that eventually becomes not only the ETA Aquarids in May, but the Orionids every October. Up next, both Southern delta Aquarids and the alpha Capricornids are due to peak at the same time between July 29 and July 30, according to the American Meteor Society. The Capricornids begin their activity July 12, followed by the Southern delta Aquarids on July 18. Both meteor showers will remain active until Aug. 12. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@ This article originally appeared on Florida Today: How to see ETA Aquarids meteor shower peak in May 2025
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Peak of ETA Aquarids comes to an end: When will the next meteor shower be visible?
Within the first five months of 2025, stargazers were treated to three dazzling meteor showers that sent "shooting stars" streaking across the night sky. The peak of the latest meteor shower, known as the ETA Aquarids, has now come and gone after becoming most active for two nights in early May. The bad news? Stargazers will have to wait a few months for the next observable meteor shower activity. But there's also good news: When the cosmic phenomenon resumes in July, spectators will be treated to a string of meteor showers – two of which will overlap during their peaks. Here's everything to know about this summer's meteor shower activity, which will hit a crescendo in August with the peak of the best meteor shower of the year: The Perseids. ETA Aquarids: Peak ends, but meteors still active The Aquarids, which first became active April 19, peaked between May 5 and May 6 as Earth passed through the densest part of the cosmic debris from the famous Halley's comet, according to the American Meteor Society. While the meteors won't be as bright or dazzling after the peak, stargazers could still catch some up until about May 28. When is the next meteor shower? 2 to peak at same time Up next, both Southern delta Aquarids and the alpha Capricornids are due to peak at the same time between July 29 and July 30, according to the American Meteor Society. The Capricornids begin their activity July 12, followed by the Southern delta Aquarids on July 18. Both meteor showers will remain active until Aug. 12. Unfortunately, neither shower is famed for being very strong. The Southern Delta Aquarids are faint meteors that are difficult enough to spot as it is. But if the moon is visible at all, it will be near impossible, according to NASA. Perseids, best meteor shower of the year, coming up In August, what is widely considered among stargazers and astronomers alike to be the best meteor shower of the year will hit its peak. The Perseid meteor shower gained its reputation for the plentiful whizzing meteors and blazing fireballs it reliably produces each year pretty much around the globe. Fireballs, large explosions of light and color, can persist even longer than an average meteor streak, NASA says. This year, the Perseids are expected to peak Aug. 12-13. But they'll be active even longer, July 17-Aug. 23. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@ This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Peak of ETA Aquarids comes to an end: When is the next meteor shower?
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
When to see the Aquarids meteor shower, debris from Halley's comet from Iowa
Skywatchers in Iowa have one last opportunity in the coming days to catch a meteor shower, as the next one won't peak until late July. The ETA Aquarids, a meteor shower that originated from the debris left by Halley's comet, becomes most active each May during the first couple of weeks of the month. The Aquarids – sometimes spelled as "Aquariids" – are famous for being fast and leaving spectacular glowing trails in their wake. The ETA Aquarids, a meteor shower formed from debris left behind by Halley's comet, reach their peak activity each year during the first few weeks of May. The Aquarids — sometimes spelled "Aquariids" — are known for their incredible speed and glowing trails. When does the ETA Aquarids meteor shower peak? An Eta Aquarid meteor streaks over north Georgia on April 29, 2012. The Aquarids, which first became active on April 19, are due to peak between May 5 and May 6 and last until May 28, according to the American Meteor Society. The Aquarids follow the Lyrid meteor shower in April and the Quadrantids in January. What time can I see the Aquarids meteors? The Aquarids are best viewed during the dark hours between midnight and dawn, according to the American Meteor Society. The website Time and Date also provides detailed information about where and when to see the phenomenon. For Des Moines, peak viewing is usually between 3 and 6 a.m. Where can you see Aquarids meteor shower? The Aquarids should pretty much be visible around the globe, anywhere in the sky – assuming clouds and a bright moon don't obscure the view. However, the meteors are best seen from the Southern Hemisphere. That's because the meteors seem to emerge – or radiate – from the constellation Aquarius, which is higher up in the sky in the Southern Hemisphere than it is in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, ETA Aquarid meteors appear as what NASA refers to as "Earthgrazers" – or long meteors that appear to skim the surface of the Earth at the horizon. Heading to a rural area or anywhere that is as dark as possible to decrease the chances of light pollution will also help to unveil the best sights. What is the weather forecast for Aquarids meteor shower in Iowa? The National Weather Service expects mostly clear skies across Iowa at 1 a.m. Tuesday, May 6, 2025. May 5 will be Iowans' best chance of seeing the Aquarids meteor shower. The night of Monday, May 5, will be mostly clear with a low around 48 degrees in Des Moines. Most of Iowa is forecast to have between 10% and 25% cloud cover overnight. Parts of northeast Iowa could have as much as 41% cloud cover. Tuesday night will see increased cloud coverage with a low near 52 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. The National Weather Service expects more cloud cover in Iowa in the early morning hours of Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Cloud cover is expected to be between 37% and 75% across Iowa between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Des Moines is forecast at 60% cloud cover. Clouds will be thickest in southwest Iowa and the least cloud cover will be in northeast Iowa. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@ Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@ or follow him on X @CooperAWorth. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Can you see the Aquarids meteor shower from Iowa? Here's what to know.
