Asteroids and comets are generally composed of different materials and reside in different locations of the solar system, while some rare objects display characteristics of both. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/whats-the-difference-between-comets-and-asteroids…
Tag: meteor showers
Find the Geminids’ radiant point
Why is the Geminid meteor shower best around 2 a.m.? It’s because that’s when the shower’s radiant point – near the bright star Castor in the constellation Gemini – is highest in the sky. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/radiant-point-for-geminid-meteor-shower…
Leonid meteor shower is building to a peak
The peak of the Leonids is likely to be before sunup on November 17, 2020. But people already catching some Leonids. Keep an eye out this weekend. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/leonid-meteors-before-dawn-november-17…
Taurid meteors rain down in November
The Southern and Northern Taurid meteor showers peak in November and often produce fireballs. A beautiful Taurid photo from an EarthSky community member – plus more about the shower – here. Source: https://earthsky.org/todays-image/photos-taurid-meteors-nov-2020…
Tips for watching N. Taurid meteors
The nominal peak of the North Taurid meteor shower is on the night of November 11-12, 2020. Source: https://earthsky.org/sky-archive/peak-night-for-n-taurid-meteor-shower-on-november-1112…
Bright fireball widely seen over northeastern Mexico
A fireball is an especially bright meteor from space. It can start out icy and burn up entirely in our atmosphere, or rocky … in which case a meteorite sometimes falls to Earth’s surface. This bright fireball blazed over northeastern Mexico on Tuesday, October 6, 2020. Source: https://earthsky.org/todays-image/video-photos-bright-fireball-northeastern-mexico…
Is it possible to hear meteors?
Can you hear a meteor as it streaks overhead? Some people have reported hearing meteors with a sizzling sound like bacon frying. Scientists now say you can, and explain how it happens. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/whoosh-can-you-hear-a-meteor-streak-past…
Video: ESA’s meteor camera captures the Perseid showers
The Perseids meteor shower is one of the most spectacular annual meteor showers. Made of debris from comet Swift-Tuttle they have been observed by sky-watchers for thousands of years and this year the LIC1 camera of the Canary Long-Baseline Observatory (CILBO) at Tenerife captured the peak of the 2020 Perseid meteor shower detecting dozens of meteors in a single night. Source:…
Favorite photos from 2020’s Perseid meteor shower
Have you caught any Perseid meteors? If so, share your photos with us! If your skies have been cloudy, enjoy these great meteor photos from EarthSky friends around the world. Source: https://earthsky.org/todays-image/photos-2020s-perseid-meteor-shower…
Visualize the Perseid meteor stream in space
This visualization by Ian Webster and Peter Jenniskens uses NASA data to render known Perseid meteoroids in space. Don’t miss this! Source: https://earthsky.org/todays-image/visualization-perseid-meteor-stream-ian-webster…