'Centaurids Meteor Showers Update: Beta, Theta nearly upcoming? Alpha Centaurids blocked by moon, barely seen by observers

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As rarely seen objects from the sky, meteor showers is expected to brighten night skies from January 28 until February 28 [other reports noted by 21]. This shower produces relatively low rates and is typically in minimum of six meteors per hour recorded.

This month, there will be three Centaurids that would pass through Earth. Planet Save detailed that they would named as Alpha, Beta, and Theta. The Alpha had already reached its peak two days ago as the other two are yet to be observed from the night skies. However, they are nearly upcoming.

On the other side, the Conversationist mentioned that the Centaurids will barely get noticed because the Moon is blocking the view. Plus, countries located in the Southern Hemisphere won't be able to see them unlike those in the other side [Northern Hemisphere] though it would be less likely to be clearly visible. Reports also noted that the Northern will have the Lyrids by April.

The Centaurids, as reported, are not really that prolific, so with those people who are patient enough to wait to witness them, they can be possibly seen since they are appearing less in an hour. For example, the Alpha Centaurids appreared around three meteors per hour. In addition to the report, the Beta will have around 5-14 meteors per hour and the Theta with around 4 meteors per hour.

These meteor showers though they don't appear most frequently, but decades ago between 1974 and 1980 they outbursted with as much as 30 meteors per hour. Lifehacker also detailed that the International Meteor Organisation has predicted the activity but they specified on the places where the showers are most visible to lookout.

In their official site, IMO pointed to Romania where the "bang" would likely be more noticeable. In that same country, they were reported saying that there was really a massive fireball that people saw with explosion heard around 3:05 EET especially in the counties Buzau, Vrancea, and Covasna last month.

Centaurids are meteor showers under the constellation Centaurus which are usually seen around February. This year, they appeared in three - Alpha, Beta, and Theta - for this year 2015.

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