You may have an opportunity to see two meteor showers this weekend.
Kelly Beatty, senior editor at Sky & Telescope, joined WBUR’s Morning Version to inform us methods to search for these and different wonders within the night time sky.
What meteor showers are occurring?
Two meteor showers — the Taurids and the Leonids — will probably be seen this weekend.
“They’ve these names as a result of as you lookup into the sky, these are the constellations, Taurus and Leo, that these meteors appear to radiate from as Earth plows into the little particles,” Beatty stated.
The Leonids peak on Saturday night time and the Taurids peaked earlier this week.
When can I see the meteor showers?
Situations to see the meteor showers are blended this weekend.
The Taurids will be seen within the night “as a result of Taurids comes up over the horizon as quickly because it will get darkish,” Beatty stated. However to see the Leonids, you may have to attend up till after midnight.
Beatty says each of the meteor showers are “comparatively weak” so count on to see “5 or 6 per minute if you happen to’re actually, actually fortunate,” he stated.
The complete moon on Friday night time — the final probability to glimpse a supermoon this yr — provides additional gentle within the sky, washing out the faintest meteors.
The Taurid meteor showers are very broad and will final weeks. Beatty stated it began in October and can final effectively into November. So if you happen to do not see them this weekend, give it one other strive later within the week when the moon is much less shiny.
What’s one of the best ways to view them?
You do not want any particular gear — simply your two eyes.
Discover a spot that is as darkish as attainable. Look in the other way of the total moon, Beatty suggests.
“The, the darker your, your atmosphere, the higher you can see,” he stated.
Let your eyes get 10 to fifteen minutes to regulate to the darkness, then “simply sit again and be affected person.”
What else can I see within the night time sky proper now?
It is best to be capable to see Venus, and Beatty stated this week can be a good time to glimpse Mercury.
On a transparent night, look west. “The planet Venus will probably be low within the sky over the horizon after sundown,” Beatty stated. “It will be blazingly shiny.”
Then measure “two fists” to the decrease proper of Venus, about 45 minutes after sundown, to catch sight of Mercury.
This phase aired on November 15, 2024.
