Haley’s Comet Meteor Shower Visible This Week

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Haley's Comet

Haley’s comet is only visible to the human eye once every 75-76 years or so, but every year, it does give us a spectacle in another form: a meteor shower.  This years meteor shower, called the Eta Aquarid meteor shower, will be quite the spectacle – these particles broke off from the comet hundreds of years ago.  The only downfall to the shower during it’s most visible time – May 5 and 6, is the very full moon.  The shower, however will last through May 20th.

West Virginia’s local news 12 WBOY reports:

According to The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Eta Aquarids are pieces of debris from Halley’s Comet, which is a well-known comet that is viewable from Earth approximately every 76 years.

The shower Tuesday Night into Wednesday Morning should peak around 9:00 AM Wednesday, with as many as 30 meteors whizzing around through the sky as it’s busiest point, says Bill Cooke, NASA’s Meteoroid Environmental Office.

Haley's Comet

A large moon tonight may obscure part of the shower, which means it is not expected to be as spectacular as previous years. However, with plenty of meteors streaking through the sky, it might be worth watching for.

Halley’s Comet, where the meteors come from is visible to everyone on Earth every 76 years, the next viewing is set for the middle of 2061.

Will you be watching for Haley’s Comet’s meteor shower?

Royce Christyn

Royce Christyn

Journalist at News Punch
Documentarian, Writer, Producer, Director, Author.
Royce Christyn

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