The Eta Aquarid meteor shower as seen from California in 2013.
Image Credit: Jason Jenkins via Flickr
May 05, 2016 - 4:30 PM
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - With skies expected to be clear across the region tonight you may be able to get a look at some ‘shooting stars’ at another meteor shower passes overhead.
The Eta Auqarid meteor shower happens from mid-april to the end of May every year, with the peak around May 6 or 7. This year that falls in line with a new moon, which means plenty of dark sky which can make these fast moving meteors easier to see.
This meteor shower comes from the the debris of Halley’s comet and can peak at about 30 per hour in the Northern Hemisphere.
NASA recommends viewing in the pre-dawn hours and notes many can be seen as ‘earthgrazers’, appearing closer to the horizon. For best viewing, find an area well away from city lights and lay back facing east. It can take about 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark and to start spotting the meteors, which look like shooting stars.
Environment Canada is calling for skies to clear late this evening across the region with lows of 8 Celius to 10 C expected.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn or call 250-819-3723 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2016