From this Tuesday (5), a meteor shower should hit the Earth’s atmosphere. The phenomenon may be visible to the naked eye until Wednesday (6), if the sky is low, around 2 am.
Even if the sky conditions are good, some factors can get in the way. According to Anísio Lasievicz, director of the Newton Freire Science Park, even the brightness of the Moon can make it difficult to visualize the phenomenon. “Eta Aquáridas is formed by debris from Comet Halley, it will be visible on the east side. Just find the Moon, which will be waning, that the meteors will be further to the left of it. At the same time that the Moon will help in the location, it can hinder the luminosity ”, reveals the director.
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When it comes to meteor showers, the very name of the phenomenon can be frightening. After all, the theory says that only one meteor was responsible for decimating Earth’s dinosaur population. Eta Aquáridas is formed by meteors, fragments of dust, that end up being disintegrated when entering the Earth’s atmosphere. The episode got its name because it happens close to the star Eta Aquarii, which is in the constellation Aquarius.
When the meteor shines upon entering the atmosphere, it is popularly called a shooting star. “This happens in a range of 50 to 100 km in altitude. A commercial plane, for example, reaches an average height of 12 km ”, highlights Lasievicz.
Meteor showers are regular and happen on average two to three times a month. “Some happen very weak, but as most people live in cities, light pollution ends up making it difficult to visualize these phenomena”, he stresses.
More phenomena on May 26
The month of May reveals two more astronomical episodes. On the 26th, the second Super Moon of the year will light up the sky. It will be the turn of the Moon of Flowers, a name related to the month in which the phenomenon occurs and which is related to spring in the northern hemisphere, the flower season.
On the same date, a total lunar eclipse should take place at dawn. “Unfortunately, what is not going to be visible here in Brazil. The eclipse will be when the sun is rising, very early in the morning. In Africa, in Asia, it will be possible to see this eclipse ”, explains Lasievcz.
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