Most years have 12 full moons, but this year has 13, three of them supermoons. When it gets closest to the Earth in its orbit, it can look up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter than a regular monthly full moon and so it is called supermoon. The May supermoon will be seen at its fullest and brightest Thursday, but it will be bright enough Tuesday to outshine the comet's performance.įILE - The supermoon rises behind a downtown office building in Kansas City, Mo., April 7, 2020.Ī full moon appears approximately once a month. A supermoon is a full moon that appears bigger and brighter when it gets closest to the Earth in its orbit. This year the comet shower coincides with the last supermoon of the year 2020. But northern viewers can admire the radiant show above the horizon in predawn hours, away from city lights or moonlight. It is best seen from Australia, New Zealand, Africa and South America, where gazers may see as many as 40 "falling stars" in the sky. ![]() Halley's Comet shower is the most spectacular for viewers in the southern hemisphere. The comet was named after 17th-century British astronomer Edmond Halley, who computed the rate of its movement from his 1682 observations and predicted that it would reappear in 1758, long after his death. Astronomers have observed and documented its appearances, which has helped them understand comets in general. It was first noticed more than 2,000 years ago. Halley's Comet is the best known because it can be seen with the naked eye as it passes by periodically. The world's best-known comet produces a meteor shower, officially known as Eta Aquariids, which can be seen once a year in the spring when the Earth crosses the comet's path. The annual Halley's Comet meteor shower peaked Monday, but the meteor streaks will still be visible in the sky by the end of the week. In addition to an ongoing meteor shower, the year's last supermoon is out and will be seen at its best Thursday. If you’re observing after midnight, remember to dress warmly as the night may become quite cool in the pre-dawn hours.If life on Earth has become tedious with coronavirus restrictions, celestial activity this week promises some excitement.Red or brown paper placed over the front lens of the flashlight will help preserve your eyes’ sensitivity to faint light. Safety first! Carry a flashlight to help navigate in the dark, especially in unfamiliar places.Stargazing is a waiting game, so get comfortable and be prepared to relax and enjoy the event! Bring something to sit back or lie down on like a reclining lawn chair or chaise lounge. If possible, get out of town and travel to a dark place away from artificial lights and light pollution for the best view.You don’t want to limit the amount of sky you can see at one time. Find a wide-open viewing area and don’t use a telescope or binoculars.Wake up one or two hours before sunrise and let your eyes adjust to darkness for at least 20 minutes.At its peak, you should be able to see up to 30 meteors every hour. And, you’re in luck! The May 6 new moon will ensure even better viewing. ![]() This is when it is forecasted that Earth will encounter the densest part of the debris stream, with the most meteors streaking across the sky. ![]() Nobody is sure EXACTLY when this will be, but according to, the best time to see the Eta Aquarids this year will be the early morning hours of Thursday, May 5 and Friday, May 6. Meteor showers aren’t just one-night events, but there’s typically a best time to watch. That said, according to, those at mid-northern latitudes will still be able to see some meteors and might even “be lucky enough to catch an “earthgrazer – a bright, long-lasting meteor that travels horizontally across the sky.” This meteor shower ranks as one of the best of the year, but it does favor the Southern Hemisphere. Although the meteors emerge from a single point, they can appear anytime and anywhere in the night sky. It’s called Eta Aquarids because the meteors seem to emerge or radiate from near the star Eta Aquarii, the brightest star in the constellation Aquarius the Water Bearer. The meteors of the Eta Aquarids meteor shower are formed from the debris of Halley’s comet. Here are some things you should know about the Eta Aquarids meteor shower. It won’t be until 2061 that Halley’s comet gets close to Earth again, but in the meantime you can look up this week and see its remnants. Halley’s Comet is only visible from Earth once every 75 years, but residual chunks separated from its tail hundreds of years ago generate two annual meteor showers: the Eta Aquarids in April/May and the Orionids in October. ![]() Accessible Applications for Measuring Light Pollutionĭon’t miss seeing the remnants of Halley’s Comet this Week.
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