Will meteors from Halley's comet surge?

A possible flurry of "shooting stars" makes this year's Eta Aquarid meteor shower worth a look.

Francis Reddy

Eta Aquarid Meteors will pepper the sky before dawn May 5. With the Moon at new phase, observing conditions should be ideal. Astronomy: Roen Kelly

April 29, 2008

Be on the lookout for a rush of meteors before dawn Monday morning. That's when the annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower reaches maximum activity. Seeing the shower with no interference from the Moon is nice, but there's a possible bonus. Astronomers think the Eta Aquarids could produce more than twice the usual number of meteors.

Meteors are fleeting fiery trails — "shooting stars" — that occur as small solid particles burn up in Earth's atmosphere. Comets shed dust as ice boils off their surfaces and litter their orbits with debris. Meteor showers result when Earth grazes a comet's dusty path and sweeps up some of these particles. Dust shed by Comet 1P/Halley creates the Eta Aquarid shower, so named because the meteors seem to emanate from a common point, or radiant, near the star Eta in the constellation Aquarius.

Meteor-watching is a minimalist activity. No equipment is required — skygazers just need to know when and where to look. Dress warmly, relax in a comfortable chair, and keep an eye on the southeastern sky. It's kind of like fishing.

Full article and sky chart here:

http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=6882