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Halley's Comet and Meteor Showers |
Space
October 20, 2009
Every October, the Earth's rotation around the sun drags it right into a collection of dust and debris in space. When pieces of this dust, many of which are no bigger than a pea, hit the Earth's atmosphere, the impact causes them to ignite and become what is known as a "meteor shower." Because the pieces of space dust are so small, they are often destroyed before they get anywhere close to Earth's surface so we don't have to worry about anything except enjoying the show!
This particular meteor shower is caused by debris left behind by Halley's Comet during its last pass around the Earth. Though meteors will be easily seen from October 17th to the 25th, the peak of activity, with almost 20 meteors per hour, will be early in the morning of October 21st between midnight and 1AM!
What is Halley's Comet?
Halley's Comet is the first comet whose travel parth scientists were able to predict, as well as one of the first comets to be photographed by satellite. It was named after the English astronomer Edmond Halley, who in the 1700's theorized that three separate comets, with sightings dating as far back as 240 BC, were actually just one comet circling Earth over and over! He correctly guessed that the comet would pass Earth again in 1759, but died in 1742 so he never got to see it for himself.
Halley's Comet last passed in the Earth in 1986, and scientists are predicting it will return in 2061 — how old will you be then?!?
