| Title: |
Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower |
| Location: |
Hawaiian Islands |
| Date / Time: |
May 5th, 2:30 A.M. - Sunrise |
| Comments: |
The Eta Aquarid meteor shower could prove exciting this year, as the May 5th peak coincides with the new (dark) Moon. On this moonless night, away from city lights, observers might expect to see between 20 & 70 meteors/hour, between 2:30 A.M and sunrise on May 5th. These meteors are bright and fast moving; burning up as they make contact with our atmosphere, at approx. 41 miles/second. They appear to "radiate" from the constellation Aquarius, which rises almost directly due east by 2:30A.M. Most meteor activity expected just prior to dawn - look to the east.
Meteor showers occur when the Earth passes through the path of a comet. The bits of debris left behind by comets, most no larger than a grain of sand, create a spectacular light show as they enter the Earth's atmosphere. The parent comet for the Eta Aquarids is Comet Halley.
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Maintained by Roz Reiner - Kauai, Hawaii
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