The Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower May 2020 Peaks Tonight
If you were born sometime after 1983, there is probably a better than 50-50 chance that in the summer of 2061, when Halley's Comet makes its 31st (observed) journey to the internal solar system, you will be alive. Older people may have seen the famous comet on its last appearance during the 1986 winter. But if you are here to welcome the comet 41 years from now on its next journey, you will have a chance to spy on some of Halley's bits and pieces over these next few days – Meteor Shower May 2020. Like other comets, Halley is a cosmic litterbug; it leaves a "river of rubble" in its wake along its orbit about every 76 years, as it sweeps closest to the sun. When the Earth interacts with that rubble river, those comet bits race at higher speeds through our atmosphere to produce the "shooting stars." effect. The comet's orbit crosses very close to our own orbit at two points. The material released into space on its way to the sun produces the October meteor shower known as the Orionids, while the material released after the comet has rounded the sun and is moving back to the outer limits of the solar system produces an early May meteor display: the Eta Aquarides Meteor Shower May 2020, due this week. First Sighted in 1870 Unlike several other periodic meteor shows whose history can be traced back for hundreds or thousands of years, it was not until the late 19th century that the Eta Aquarids were "officially" discovered. In 1870, while sailing in the Mediterranean Sea, on the morning of 30 April, Lieutenant Colonel G.L. Tupman sighted 15 meteors, and a few mornings later another 13. All the meteors were evidently originating from the Aquarius constellation. And in 1876, Professor Alexander Stewart Herschel deduced that Halley's Comet's orbit almost aligned with Earth's orbit around May 4, and that if we encountered any comet debris capable of creating meteors, those flashes of light would appear to emanate from Aquarius' vicinity. Herschel instantly observed that his prediction was very close to his observations of Tupman. In subsequent years, increasing numbers of other astronomers and observers have noticed parallels between Halley's Comet's orbits and the Eta Aquarid source. Such streaks of light are formed by material that originates from the Halley's Comet nucleus. This cosmic vagabond has journeyed around the sun countless numbers of times over the centuries, each time leaving behind dust and grit similar in coherence and texture to cigar ash; each meet with the Eta Aquarides brings with it the traces of a famous visitor from the depths of space — and quite possibly the dawn of creation. Do not forget leaving your valuable comment on this piece of writing and sharing with your near and dear ones. To keep yourself up-to-date with Information Palace, put your email in the space given below and Subscribe. Furthermore, if you yearn to know about the B2B Virtual events service launching, view our construct, ‘Intermedia Group launches B2B Virtual Events Service’. Read the full article
