SUPERMOON AND METEOR SHOWER THIS WEEKEND: Saturday, May 5th, will present a unique opportunity to observe both a ‘supermoon’ and the remnants of Halley’s Comet in the form of the Eta Aquarid meteor shower.
On Saturday, May 5th, the biggest full moon of the year, known as a ‘supermoon,’ will occur at 11:35 p.m. EDT (0335 May 6). Simultaneously, the Eta Aquarid meteor shower, formed from remnants of Halley’s Comet, will also be hitting its peak.
A supermoon occurs when the moon comes into its fullest phase (full moon) while at the same time making its closest approach to Earth for the month, a term known as a perigee. This type of supermoon event is also known as a “super perigee moon.” (see video from NASA @ http://www.space.com/15037-super-moon-return-2012-video.html) The moon will come within 221,802 miles of Earth on Saturday, its closest approach in 2012, and may appear to be 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than other full moons of the year according to NASA. The moon will then reach its apogee, or farthest point from the Earth, on May 19th.
The last time a supermoon occurred was on March 19, 2011, and at that time, it was the biggest and brightest in 18 years.
The best time to view the supermoon will be in the early evening just as the moon is rising and close to the horizon. The optical illusion produced will make the moon appear remarkably larger.
Although the moon may appear to be unusually close, scientists have stated that there is no need for alarm, and that the difference in distance occurring during this perigee will not be significant enough to cause major earthquakes or tidal events. The supermoon will, however, have an effect on both ocean tides and winds—with the highest and lowest tides of the year expected as well as the possibility for increased winds.
Occurring simultaneously during the supermoon is the Eta Aquarid meteor shower of 2012, which began on April 19th and will continue through May 28. The shower is expected to hit its peak during the overnight hours of Saturday, May 5, into Sunday, May 6. The Eta Aquarid shower is one of two meteor showers created by the remnants of Halley’s Comet, the other being the Orionid meteor shower which occurs in October. The Eta Aquarid meteor shower occurs every April-May as the Earth passes through debris from Halley’s Comet’s 76-year orbit around our sun.
Because the meteor shower will be happening at the same time as the supermoon, many smaller meteors may be more difficult to see. However, there will still be larger meteors which will be very bright that can be seen at the rate of several per hour. At its height, the Eta Aquarid meteor shower will produce as many as 60 meteors per hour, however, taking the bright light from the moon into account, “forecasters estimate a maximum of 30+ visible meteors per hour.”
Although skywatchers in the southern hemisphere will have better viewing opportunities, the best time to look for meteors in the northern hemisphere is just before your local sunrise, with “earthgrazers” being visible between 2:00 to 2:30 AM local time. If you do plan on doing a bit of skywatching, be sure to dress for the occasion. The best strategy is to lie down on the ground and look slightly towards the eastern sky and be patient. It’s worth the wait, and you’ll probably get to see some amazing sights!
Share this post...
