Gwinnett County

Dash cam captures meteor streaking across Lawrenceville sky

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Did you see it? Driver Jeremy Wall captured dashcam video of this fireball streaking across on Harrington Road in the Lawrenceville area on May 3.

The meteor was likely part of the Eta Aquarid meteor shower, the first of two celestial light shows that occur every year in early May as a result of Earth passing through dust released by Halley's Comet. The shower peaks May 5 and 6 with about 10 to 20 meteors streaking across the sky per hour. The best time to catch the show is just before dawn.

How to watch it  

NASA recommends finding an area well away from city or street lights to view the meteor shower. Come prepared with a sleeping bag, blanket or lawn chair. Lie flat on your back with your feet facing east and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible. After about 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors. Be patient -- the show will last until dawn, so you have plenty of time to catch a glimpse.

Also making an appearance will be Halley's Comet's remnants, which is seen only every 76 years. It will not enter the inner solar system again until 2061.

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