In the Mexican sky you can see an astronomical show tonight: the rain of stars or meteors known as And acuáridas.
during the night of the May 5 to 6, 2025you can see this rain of stars, which is one of the most active of the year.
In addition astronomical phenomenon will reach its maximum point with up to 40 fleeting stars per houraccording to the National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics (Ine).
The meteor rain And acuáridas It is known by the fast fireballs that occur when the earth crosses the rubble left by the Comet Halley.
Las And acuáridas They receive their name because they seem to come from the constellation of Aquarius. Although this constellation is not the real source of meteors, it does serve as a guide for observers.
How to see the rain of stars ETA acuáridas?
- When can you see this rain of stars? You can see the dusk of May 5 and in the early hours of May 6towards the east part of the celestial sphere.
- What do you need to see it? No optical instrument is required.
He Ideal Moment for Observation it will be After midnightwhen the moon hides and the sky is darker.
The most important thing is get away from the city’s lights and look for a dark place with clear sky.
Tools like LightPollutionMap They can help find ideal sites. Then, just bed looking east and let the view get used to darkness. NASA recommends waiting at least 30 minutes for the eyes to adapt completely.
How do you see the ETA acuáridas meteor?
The meteors of the And acuáridas They are known for their speed, since they travel about 65.4 kilometers per second to the Earth’s atmosphere.
Fast meteors can leave bright traces (incandescent fragments in their wake) that last from several seconds to minutes. You can see about 50 meteors per hour during the maximum of And acuáridas.
What is a rain of stars?
According to astronomer Guillermo Bosch, director of the Planetarium of the National University of La Plata, what we commonly call “fleeting stars” They are not stars, but tiny particles of dust and rock that enter the atmosphere and burn before reaching the surface.
“Las stars or particles do not fallbut vice versa. It’s like when you go in car and go through an insect cloud: we feel they stick to us, but in reality we move, ”he explained.
The origin of ETA acuáridas is in comet 1p/haleywhich leaves behind a cloud of particles by eroding in each orbit. When the earth crosses that cloud, meteor rain is generated.
Las Meteor rains They occur at approximately at the same time each year, and can last days or weeks. However, there is only a small period in which each rain is at its maximum point, which occurs when the earth reaches the densest part of the cosmic remains. This is the best time to look for a rain.
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