Shooting star show set for Cinco de Mayo skies

Cinco de Mayo arrives in style this year, sprinkling the skies with shooting stars shed from the dusty tail of Halley's comet.

Dust shed from the tail of Halley's comet will blossom into a shooting star show to start off Cinco de Mayo, astronomers report.

About 30 shooting stars an hour should be seen in clear skies for the yearly Eta Aquarid meteor shower, which peaks this year around 9 p.m. EDT on May 5, according to NASA estimates

The meteors will appear from the constellation Aquarius (hence the shower's name) to skywatchers, who are advised to pack a lawn chair and find a place far away from city lights for the best viewing.

"A thin crescent moon makes for dark skies, and best viewing is in the hour or two before dawn," says JPL's AsteroidWatch website.

Halley's comet is viewable from Earth every 76 years but won't be seen again until 2061. It leaves a dusty trail behind in its travels, however, which Earth essentially orbits into every year in May to produce the meteor shower. The shooting stars are actually dust grains traveling 44 miles per second, burning and streaking across the sky. Shooting stars may be seen on nights before and after May 5, due to the breadth of the comet's dust trail.

source: usatoday.com

Obama honors Cinco de Mayo

President Obama's statement on Cinco de Mayo.

"Today we honor the victory of the Mexican people in their fight for freedom at the Battle of Puebla 151 years ago. On Cinco de Mayo we celebrate the contributions and heritage of Mexican Americans and we recognize the strong cultural, familial, and economic ties that bind the United States and Mexico.

"This week, I was proud to visit Mexico to reaffirm our vision for the Americas as a region of shared opportunity and prosperity. I left even more convinced that we have historic opportunities to expand trade and make our economies even more competitive, so that we continue creating good jobs in both of our countries.

"In Mexico, I also emphasized the need to pass commonsense immigration reform that lives up to our tradition as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants, including generations of Mexican Americans who have enriched our country. Fixing our immigration system is one of my top legislative priorities and I am hopeful that we can make immigration reform a reality this year.

"Cinco de mayo reminds us that America's diversity is America's strength. Today, as we celebrate the contributions and history of Mexican Americans and Hispanics in America, let us celebrate the larger story of America and our unique immigrant heritage."

source: usatoday.com