27 April 2011: Looking for an adventure? You get up in the early hours of the morning may 6th and head in the country, far from the lights of the city. You are not alone. The birds are up and singing about the coming dawn, and, of course, about the ETA Aquarid meteor shower.
"The ETA Aquariids are best from the southern hemisphere, but it is something special no matter where you life:" each ETA Aquarid meteoroid is a piece of Halley's Comet a kamikaze death do diving, enters the atmosphere, "NASA explains astronomer Bill Cooke.""Many people have never seen, famous Comet, but on the morning of 6th may leave see bits of fiery trail across the sky."
A Messenger from the dawn of the universe, Halley's Comet orbits the Sun once 76. Every time it evaporates from the Sun, swings solar heat about 6 meters of ice and rock from the core. The debris particles, the size of the grains of sand spread over the Comet orbit, filled it with tiny meteoroids.
"Although Halley's Comet deep in the outer solar system at the moment is and not until 2061 to Earth will return us twice treated our planet through the debris cloud, passes to meteor shower in the year" says Cooke. "In we need the ETA Aquariids, and in October the towns of Orion."
And there is something about the 2011 ETA Aquariids of particular importance.
"This is your a chance this year to see the sky without obvious Moonlight dimming it blaze meteors."
A thin Crescent in the early evening sky, departure left a dark screen to display. Early birds are in luck, as the best display results achieve one or two hours before dawn. They set out, where you as possible to catch more meteors see with your peripheral as broad expanse of the sky can see. See in the dark and relax.
Radiant for the ETA Aquariids is in the constellation Aquarius: chart.? But you need to look radiant to see the meteors in direction.
"Meteors in any part of the sky, can appear", says Cooke. "In fact the radiant tend their out back in the direction, so you which way the Meteor may seem somewhat stubby look." "You will appear much longer you as Los on you."
You need no binoculars or telescope ETA Aquarid observe meteors. The human eye sight is usually best for meteors, often more than 45 degrees across the sky strip see.
"Eta Aquariids are 66 km / s (148.000 mph!) quickly" move and track often long paths across the sky, glowing, persistent trains sometimes leave. "In the northern hemisphere according to your latitude [which is closer to the Equator better], 10, 40 meteors shortly before sunrise you see."
Keep in mind, a reclining chair or an old ceiling are located on Pack, and a thermos hot coffee would be nice. Finally, you will soon to powerful! The night air can spring damp and chill, so dog bring a great along a different ceiling - or better yet, furry, both for warmth and company. Golden retriever work well.
It is sure to be an unforgettable experience will be. A night accompanying a slightly increasing chorus of birdsong own personal Lightshow-and your biggest admirer of your page caress breeze your cheek, the smell of hot coffee at the crack of dawn air. It will receive not just better.
Author: Dauna Coulter | Editor: Dr. Tony Phillips | Credit: Science@NASA
On 5 may host NASA Meteor experts an afternoon live webchat 2-15: 00 central time and a whole night "awake" chat from 10 am on the 5. 4 pm on the sixth (Central time). Get ready to help, see NASA in the sky! Live switch Web discussion about this shower, by a Halley's Comet! - and all things meteoric. Details here... http://www.nasa.gov/connect/chat/aquarids2011.html
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