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Rare Andromedids Meteor Shower Could Be Visible Saturday Night
Rare Andromedids Meteor Shower Could Be Visible Saturday Night
Dec 27, 2024 11:20 AM

At a Glance

There's a chance to see a very rare meteor shower tonight.The Andromedids originated in what is now a dead comet.

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People in the U.S. might have a chance to see a very rare meteor shower Saturday night.

It’s called the , and it originated with a comet named 3D/Biela. The comet was first observed blazing a trail through space in the 1700s. It broke apart around 1842, according to the American Astronomical Society. The “D” in indicates a dead comet that’s mostly disappeared.

It produced stunning meteor showers in 1872 and 1885 that have been and studied.

But since then, sightings of the Andromedids are infrequent. Some astronomers it could be visible Saturday night, with up to 200 meteors per hour.

If that happens, the would be in Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia due to timing.

But people in North America could have to spot some of the Andromedids shortly after sunset if the show runs behind its expected schedule, the American Meteor Society says.

T​he window for possible viewing is very short because a will rise and pour light into the sky, making any potential meteors hard to see.

W​eather - especially clouds - could also play a role in visibility.

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Weather.com reporter Jan Childs covers breaking news and features related to weather, space, climate change, the environment and everything in between.

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, .

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