Shooting Stars of May
May 2006 :
Note: This article may contain outdated information
This article was published in the May 2006 issue of The Skyscraper and likely contains some information that was pertinent only for that month. It is being provided here for historical reference only.
This time of year can present good opportunities to observe a few meteors without freezing your toes off or playing host to thirsty mosquitoes in hot and humid conditions. The old May fly may be troublesome during the day, but the still cool evenings usually stifle their activity. All you have to do is wait for the right night to turn your gaze skyward to catch a glimpse of a few shooting stars.
All winter we have been observing magnificent Saturn through the telescopes at Seagrave Observatory in North Scituate and from Ladd Observatory in Providence. There have been some nights when the seeing was so good that we "cranked up" the power to magnifications we usually can't use due to our unsteady atmosphere. We're hoping the same will be true when we begin to observe Jupiter when it clears the treetops on the horizon of both of these facilities. Did you know Jupiter has a new "little red spot" that has recently formed? It will be very interesting to witness the evolution of this new feature in the Jovian cloud tops.
Until then, in a week or two, we can turn our attention to an annual meteor shower called the Eta Aquarids. This old meteor shower peaks during the predawn hours on the morning of May 6. When the waxing gibbous Moon sets around 2:45 am, the constellation Aquarius, from where the meteors appear to radiate, will just be rising above the eastern horizon. Since the sun rises around 5:30 am, you'll only have a couple of "dark" hours to observe before dawn's early light brightens the eastern sky.
Though this shower is declining, from now until a predicted peak in 2008-2010 we may experience increasing numbers of meteors. It may even be greater than the normal peak rate of 10-15 meteors per hour.
This display of shooting stars (particles stripped off Halley's Comet) enters our upper atmosphere nearly head-on at 41 miles per second. This high-speed collision results in forty percent of the meteors leaving long persisting dust trains. They are swift and yellow.
The best direction to look for the Eta Aquarids will be towards the east and southeast. Observe from a dark sky location if possible. Set your alarm clock for 2:30 am and get comfortable outside for a couple of hours. Hope that the display will be productive enough to keep you awake!
Don't forget to visit Seagrave Memorial Observatory on any clear Saturday night for a tour of the heavens. Visit our web site for additional information: www.theskyscrapers.org.
Keep your eyes to the skies.
