The Eta Aquarids is an above average shower, capable of producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak. Most of the activity is seen in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, the rate can reach about 30 meteors per hour. It is produced by dust particles left behind by comet Halley, which has known and observed since ancient times. The shower runs annually from April 19 to May 28. It peaks this year on the night of May 6 and the morning of the May 7. The waxing gibbous moon will block out many of the fainter meteors this year. But if you are patient, you should be able to catch quite a few of the brighter ones. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Aquarius, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
http://seasky.org
We look forward to seeing you on Sunday evenings!
See front page of NOVAC Site for changes to event.
More information about Great Meadow including directions and parking visit the Great Meadow Site page.
Most forecasts predict cloudy skies with a 10 to 20 percent likelihood of light rain or drizzle. Conditions won’t be suitable for astronomy.
Even though the Clear Sky Chart currently predicts only 10% cloud cover <http://www.cleardarksky.com/c/CrckttPrkVAkey.html>, most of the other
weather-guessers say that the evening will be cloudy with a significant chance of precipitation
<https://weather.com/weather/hourbyhour/l/22728:4:US>
<http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/midland-va/22728/hourly-weather-forecast/2111280?hour=19>.
Please read the C.M. Crockett Page for park details.
Venus will be at its “greatest western elongation”. This is a great time to view Venus since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky. Look for the enormously bright thing in the western sky before sunrise.