Astronomy For May

Every year the earth crosses the orbital path of Halley’s Comet.  As our planet passes thru the debris left behind by the comet some of the detritus burns-up as it reenters the earth's atmosphere with a resulting meteor shower.  Shooting stars! 

 

The Eta Aquariid meteor shower is a long-duration shower beginning just after the middle of April and lasting thru the end of May.  It peaks on the evening of May 4-5. 

In case you are traveling the best viewing is in the Southern Hemisphere where it is one of the most prolific showers of the year.  Nevertheless, they can be observed north of the equator with 10 to 30 meteors per hour at peak. 

 

Get yourself comfortable in a lawn chair and allow your eyes 30 minutes to adjust to the dark. 

  

Look to the southeast and the constellation Aquarius – although a shooting star can occur just about anywhere.

In our mid-northern latitudes you can expect to see ten or more meteors per hour.  The late evening hours are the best time to observe earthgrazer fireballs – more meteors that make the long streaks across night sky.  

Fingers-crossed for dark skies and clear viewing conditions.  

 

 

 

 

Short time-lapse video here.  The moon rises at the end of the clip (at the one minute mark) washes-out the night sky.  A terrific example of light pollution washing-out the night sky.