THE rain of aquarid meteors reaches the peak at dawn this Tuesday (6). The forecast is that it will be visible in first hours of dawn, at 6am (Brasília time), According to the International Meteor Organization (IMO).
Even though it is known for the speed of its rocks, NASA announced that the crescent moon light will erase the weaker meteors, so the expectation is that at most 10 to 15 fragments per hour will be seen.
The rocks that create the rain of aquarid meteors originate from the comet 1p/Halley which, when returning to the internal solar system, releases a layer of dust to space – which cross our atmosphere and are visible.
It takes about 76 years to orbit the sun once and was last seen by observers in 1986. After 2025, the comet will only enter our neighborhood again in 2061.
The name of the rain comes from the position in the sky from which meteors are seen, which is in the constellation of Aquarius, where one of the brightest stars is called Eta Aquarii.
See the other 2025 meteor rains
- July 29th to 30th: Southern Aquarid Delta
- July 29th to 30th: Alpha Capricornids
- August 12th to 13th: Persecuted
- October 22-23: ORINITES
- November 3-4: Southern
- November 8th to 9th: North
- November 16th to 17th: Leonidas
- December 12th to 13th: Geminids
- December 21st to 22nd: Ursids
What is a rain of meteors?
According to NASA, the meteor rain is the phenomenon in which many meteors enter the atmosphere of the earth. The agency explains that as the space rock falls towards the earth, the resistance of the air over the rock makes it extremely hot, and we see a “shock star.”
“This bright track is not really a rock, but the hot and bright air as the hot rock crosses the atmosphere,” explains the US space agency.
This happens often because, as a comet approaches the sun, part of its cold surface evaporates, releasing particles of dust and rock, which are debris scattered along the way.
“Several times a year, while the earth makes its trip around the sun, its orbit crosses the orbit of a comet, which means that the earth clashes with a lot of comet debris.
How to observe a rain of meteors?
Meteor rains need to be seen in very dark places.
Usually it is not necessary to use equipment such as telescope or binoculars, but, as already said, the visibility of the sky can be compromised even by the moon depending on the period of the month.
Tips to better observe a meteor rain:
According to the Time and Date portal, all you need is a cloudless sky and a lot of patience. Besides, of course, knowing if you’re looking at the right place in the sky – the site’s interactive map can help with it.
- Find a isolated place of observation, far from the city’s lights. Once in place, your eyes can take 15 to 20 minutes to get used to the dark.
- Take a blanket if it gets cold in the place or a comfortable chair with you, as observing meteors involves waiting time.
- After finding your observation place, lie on the floor and look at the sky. An interactive map should help find the direction of the radiant. The higher the radiant is above the horizon line, the more meteors you will probably see.
- Meteor rains are usually originated in the point where the radiant is, but they can be seen anywhere in the sky.
See also: Fall of rare meteor illuminates sky of Rio Grande do Sul
This content was originally published in the aquarid meteor rain has peak at dawn on Tuesday (6) on CNN Brazil.
Source: CNN Brasil
Charles Grill is a tech-savvy writer with over 3 years of experience in the field. He writes on a variety of technology-related topics and has a strong focus on the latest advancements in the industry. He is connected with several online news websites and is currently contributing to a technology-focused platform.
