Sunrise Sunset

Fri., May 6 5:32 7:44

Sat., May 7 5:31 7:45

Sun., May 8 5:30 7:46

Mon., May 9 5:28 7:47

Tues., May 10 5:27 7:48

Wed., May 11 5:26 7:49

Thurs., May 12 5:25 7:50

Fri., May 13 5:34 7:51

There is a good chance to see a shooting star if you are up and outside tonight, and even more likely if you are outside in the early hours of tomorrow morning. The Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaked yesterday morning but still offers a show. At its peak the Eta Aquarid meteor shower produces as many as 20 meteors in an hour.

Ancient astronomers thought the meteors, which appear to radiate from one source, originated from the constellation Aquarius. Modern-day astronomers now know that the meteors are in fact connected to Halley’s Comet, which has an elliptical orbit around the sun. Halley’s Comet also produces another meteor shower later in the year — the Orionids — which can be seen in October. Twice a year, the earth passes through the orbit of this revered comet.

The ringed planet Saturn can be found rising in the eastern sky after sunset. The planet is one of the brightest “stars” in the east. Saturn is in the constellation Virgo, not far above the bright star Spica.

The brightest planet in the sky, Venus, is low in the southeastern sky before sunrise.

M.A.L.