Don’t miss a glimpse of a meteor shower from Halley’s Comet visible from Kansas soon
Keep your eyes up, Wichita. It’s almost time for the peak of the annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower.
The Eta Aquarids will peak over the weekend, with the potential to see up to 50 meteors per hour Sunday, May 5 through Monday, May 6.
While the peak is this weekend, the meteor shower is typically visible April 15 through May 27, according to astronomy publication Space.com. So if you struggle to see it at its peak, there will be other opportunities to catch a glimpse.
Named after the constellation Aquarius, the Eta Aquarids shower is one of two showers created from debris from Halley’s Comet. The other one, named the Orionid meteor shower, peaks Oct. 20.
According to NASA, each time Halley’s Comet enters the solar system, a layer of ice and rock sheds into space. As the grains from the comet collide with the Earth’s atmosphere, they become the Eta Aquarids in May.
It takes Halley’s comet 76 years to orbit the sun. It has not been seen since 1986, but is expected to return to the inner solar system in 2061.
This meteor shower isn’t the only celestial event Wichitans will be able to view this year. The flower moon is coming up May 23 for those who love full moons, as well as a partial solar eclipse in September.
Tips for viewing the meteor shower from south-central Kansas
For the best view of this spring’s meteor shower, you should try to get as far away from city lights as possible.
Unlike some other celestial events, you don’t need any special equipment to view the shower. Once your eyes adjust to the darkness, which could take up to half an hour, you’ll be able to see the meteor shower if the weather permits.
It may be hard to see during the peak in Wichita, however.
After severe thunderstorms Saturday and Tuesday, the threat for more severe weather continues in the area this week. The National Weather Service forecasts a chance of rain and thunderstorms Sunday night in Wichita and mostly cloudy skies. The chance of thunderstorms will continue Monday.
The forecast Tuesday shows clear skies. While the meteor shower won’t be at its peak that night, it will still be visible for those who want to give viewing it another shot.
This story was originally published May 2, 2024 at 12:37 PM with the headline "Don’t miss a glimpse of a meteor shower from Halley’s Comet visible from Kansas soon."
