Reno, look up. The Eta Aquarids meteor shower peaks this week

The Eta Aquarids meteor shower is expected to peak in the early morning hours of May 5-6. Though Northern Nevada's cloudy skies may prove a hurdle for sky-gazers the morning of May 5, by May 6 the weather is expected to be clearer.

Those lucky enough to view the shower under clear skies could see up to 50 meteors per hour, according to theAmerican Meteor Society.

The Eta Aquarids meteors are renowned for their speed. They enter Earth’s atmosphere at about 40.7 miles per second, leaving "trains" – glowing pieces of debris in the meteor’s wake – that linger for several seconds, according toNASA.

Here’s where and when to get the best views of the Eta Aquarids meteor shower.

Where to view the Eta Aquarids meteor shower

The shower’s radiant, the point in the sky from which Eta Aquarids meteors appear to originate, is located in the constellation Aquarius. For the best views, look toward the east during the pre-dawn hours of May 5-6, when the shower is predicted to peak.

Stargazers should still be able to see some meteors until around May 21, although they will not be as bright after the peak, according toNASA.

Where do the Eta Aquarids come from?

The constellation from which meteors appear to originate gives a meteor shower its name. The Eta Aquarids appear near the constellation Aquarius when viewed from Earth.

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The parent comet of the Eta Aquarids meteor shower is the famousHalley’s Comet, according toEarthSky. Halley’s Comet typically completes one orbit around the Sun every 76 years. As a result, when Earth passes through the comet’s orbit, the comet itself is very far away.

There are more meteor showers to come this year

A number of significant meteor shower events are expected to occur this year, offering great opportunities to see more meteors (shooting stars). According to the American Meteor Society and other sources, the most notable upcoming events include:

• July 30-31: Alpha Capricornid meteor shower (medium)

• Aug. 12-13: Perseid meteor shower (strong)

• Oct. 21-22: Orionid meteor shower (medium)

• Nov. 11-12: Taurid meteor shower (weak)

• Nov. 16-17: Leonid meteor shower (irregular)

• Dec. 13-14: Geminid meteor shower (strong)

• Dec. 21-22: Ursid meteor shower (medium)

Can I see meteors near Reno?

Darker areas near the city can provide stronger contrast between the night sky and the bright white shooting stars. Several spots within a short drive offer darker sky conditions, including:

1. Fort Churchill State Park: The park on Alt. 95 south of Silver Springs provides a dark night sky ideal for evening astronomical events among the ruins of Fort Churchill. Park entrance costs $5 for Nevada residents and $10 for nonresidents.

2. Pyramid Lake: A popular spot for Renoites seeking a night of stargazing, the lake is less than an hour from The Biggest Little City. It offers beautiful natural wonders and dark skies that give a clear view of lunar eclipses, meteor showers and full moons.

3. Lake Tahoe: Multiple locations around the lake offer excellent stargazing less than an hour from Reno.

Cloudy skies in Northern Nevada could impede views

Northern Nevada's rainy weather isexpected to subside by the evening of May 5, but cloudy skies could still impede Nevadans' view of the meteor shower. By May 6, the early morning hours should be mostly clear.

CONTRIBUTING Mary Walrath-Holdridge and Eric Lagatta/USA TODAY

Brett McGinness from the Reno Gazette Journal contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Reno Gazette Journal:Eta Aquarids meteor shower peaks this week after Nevada rain subsides

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Reno, look up. The Eta Aquarids meteor shower peaks this week

The Eta Aquarids meteor shower is expected to peak in the early morning hours of May 5-6. Though Northern Nevada's cloudy skies may...

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Ben Stiller joked about missing important Knicks game in favor of Met Gala

The Eastern Conference semifinal series between the Knicks and76erstips off on Monday night in Madison Square Garden, but one of the top celebrity New York fans won't be in attendance.

Actor Ben Stiller, a Knicks superfan, opted to attend the Met Gala on Monday night over Game 1. Stiller was spotted on the red carpet at the event with his wife, fellow actor Christine Taylor. Stiller sported an orange tie, while Taylor wore a blue dress.

Stiller apparently joked with reporters on the red carpet about missing the game, stating that he would be watching it on his phone. He also predicted a Knicks win in six games, as was the case in the first round against the Atlanta Hawks.

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"Knicks in six," Stiller said.

Stiller also joked that he wished he were at the game instead of the Gala.

It's certainly a bit surprising that Stiller won't be in the Garden on Monday night, but it seems the Met Gala takes priority.

This article originally appeared on For The Win:Met Gala: Ben Stiller jokes about missing Knicks-Sixers Game 1

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Ben Stiller joked about missing important Knicks game in favor of Met Gala

The Eastern Conference semifinal series between the Knicks and76erstips off on Monday night in Madison Square Garden, but one of the to...

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Texas, Florida carry out back-to-back executions on same day

Florida has executed a death row inmate 50 years after he raped and murderedhis brother's 13-year-old stepdaughterwhile Texas put an inmate to death for killing two Christian music producers during a robbery.

The same-day executions bylethal injectioncame about an hour and a half apart on Thursday, April 30. First Florida executed James Ernest Hitchcock for the 1976 murder of 13-year-old Cynthia "Cindy" Driggers. Hitchcock was pronounced dead at 6:12 p.m. ET.

“I’ve lived with this for 50 years. I can breathe today," one of Driggers' cousins, Chip Driggers, told reporters after the execution. "Free at last, free at last. Our monster is dead.”

Also Thursday, Texasexecuted James Broadnaxfor the 2008 double murder of Stephen Swan and Matthew Butler, two producers of Christian music killed during a robbery outside their studio in the Dallas suburb of Garland. Broadnax was pronounced dead at 7:47 p.m. ET.

"Texas got it wrong," Broadnax said as he lay on the execution gurney, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. "I'm innocent. The facts of my case should speak for itself, period."

Hitchcock's and Broadnax's deaths bring to 10 the number of executions so far in the U.S. this year. Five more are scheduled next month inFlorida,Tennessee,Texas,OklahomaandArizona.

Here's what you need to know about Thursday's executions and the crimes the inmates committed.

Florida executes James Ernest Hitchcock

Florida executed James Ernest Hitchcock 50 years after he killed 13-year-old Cynthia "Cindy" Driggers, his brother's stepdaughter. On July 31, 1976, Hitchcock went into Cindy's bedroom in the middle of the night, raped her, and then beat and choked her to death when she said she was going to tell her mom, court records say. Cindy would have turned 14 three days later.

Hitchcock initially confessed to the crime to police, though he later took it back and accused his brother of the killing.

Hitchcock was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. At his sentencing hearing, Florida's then-Ninth Circuit Judge Michael Cycmanick said that he had "great difficulty in expressing the horror, suffering and physical and emotional trauma the child victim must have experienced in this case."

Cindy's familytold USA TODAY this weekthat 50 years was far too long to wait for justice for the 13-year-old girl, described as a loving big sister who was always looking out for her four younger siblings and dreamed of one day becoming a flight attendant.

Cindy's mother, Helen Judy Hitchcock said that she and her other children were "lost" when Cindy was killed.

"They didn't know what to do," Hitchcock said through tears. "Me, I just kept setting a plate at the table for her. I did that for a long time."

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Hitchcock said that she still struggles every Aug. 3, when her daughter should be celebrating her birthday. Cindy would have turned 64 this year.

"I just miss her," she said. "I would love to have seen what she is like grown up, to find out, did she really become a stewardess? Would she have been tall (like some of her siblings) or shorter like me? Just everyday things. I'd just love to see her."

Texas executes James Broadnax

Texas executed James Broadnax for the 2008 double murder of Stephen Swan and Matthew Butler after he losta vigorous fight for a reprieve.

Broadnax's case gained national attention for what his attorneys say was an unfair trial that saw prosecutors eliminate almost every potential Black juror and use Broadnax's own rap lyrics against him. The result,defense attorneys arguedin a recentU.S. Supreme Courtfiling, transformed Broadnax's "artistic expression into a death warrant."

Big name rappers including Travis Scott, T.I., Killer Mike and Young Thug threw their support behind Broadnax, arguing to theSupreme Courtthat rap music has been increasingly used as evidence against defendants "in a manner that exploits and perpetuates stereotypes."

Texas prosecutors defended the practice, saying that lyrics Broadnax wrote behind bars after the murders showed jurors his "extreme lack of empathy, regret, remorse, and accountability." They also argued that it was not about race.

"If Johnny Cash had ever been on trial for murder, particularly if the murder was alleged to have occurred in Reno, no doubt his 'Folsom Prison Blues' lyrics ('I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die') would have been admissible during the punishment phase of his trial," they argued.

In the end the Supreme Court denied Broadnax's appeal based on the rap lyrics, as well as two other appeals based on the jury selection process and on a recent confession to the murders by his cousin.

When is the next execution?

The next executions in the U.S. are set for May 14, when two states are planning to put inmates to death.

Oklahoma is set to executeRaymond Eugene Johnsonfor the 2007 murder of his ex-girlfriend and her baby daughter in Tulsa. That same day, Texas is planning to execute Edward Lee Busby for the 2004 robbery and murder of a retired Texas Christian University professor.

So far this year, three U.S. states have executed eight inmates. Thirteen more are scheduled so far for 2026 but that figure is sure to rise as governors can sign death warrants at any time.

Among the most notable upcoming executions is that ofChrista Pike in Tennesseefor the 1995 torture murder of her romantic rival. If Pike's execution moves forward in September, she'll be thefirst woman put to deathin the state in more than 200 years.

Amanda Lee Myers is a senior crime reporter who covers the death penalty, cold case investigations and breaking news for USA TODAY. Follow her on X at @amandaleeusat.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Texas, Florida carry out back-to-back executions on same day

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Texas, Florida carry out back-to-back executions on same day

Florida has executed a death row inmate 50 years after he raped and murderedhis brother's 13-year-old stepdaughterwhile Texas put a...

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Israel national security minister served golden death penalty noose birthday cake

Israel’s national security minister celebrated his 50th birthday with agolden noose on his cakejust over a month after he successfully campaigned for the death penalty for Palestinian terrorist convicts.

Footageonsocial mediashowed Itamar Ben-Gvir receiving a cake from his wife with a golden noose which wished the minister a Happy Birthday and added: ‘Sometimes dreams come true’, per translation.

The politician could be seen wearing a golden noose pin as his wife Ayala handed him the cake to mark the milestone. The event, attended by senior Israeli officials and police figures, reportedly took place at a villa in southern Israel.

The golden noose became a core symbol for Ben-Gvir’s far-right party Otzma Yehudit as they campaigned for the death penalty exclusively for Palestinian terrorism convicts. Many politicians wore a golden noose pin as they attended Knesset amid the campaign.

Israel’s legislature madedeath by hanging a default sentence for terrorism-related offencesat the end of March. The death penalty for ordinary crimes has been abolished in Israel since 1954 and the country has not carried out executions since 1962.

Human rights organisations and world leaders have criticised the legislation as discriminatory as it will primarily impact West Bank Palestinians.

Foreign ministers of Australia, Germany, France, Italy, New Zealand and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement prior to its passing expressing concern that the legislation would “risk undermining Israel’s commitments with regards to democratic principles.”

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Upon its passing through Knesset with a final 62-48 vote in favour, Ben-Gvir could be seen celebrating with a bottle of champagne as lawmakers cheered on the decision.

Ben-Gvir’s birthday party was attended by a number of senior officers of the Israeli police and prison service, which was subject to controversy as homicide levels in Israel have reached record highs.

Just two days prior to Ben-Gvir’s birthday celebrations, two men in their thirties were shot dead in central Israel, bringing the death toll of this year to 111, including 95 Arab citizens, Israeli media outlet Haaretz reported.

Former prime minister Naftali Bennet called on police officers not to attend the minister's event. In a post on his X account, he wrote: "Any public servant, in any role and in any government body, who violates their duty of loyalty to the state and exploits their position in a political rather than a state-serving manner will be immediately dismissed."

Ben-Gvir retorted on X: “Naftali has no friends, and also no work relationships — send him a cake from the party.”

The event was also attended by right wing activist Benzi Gopstein, who was convicted for inciting racism in 2024 after he’d been charged for inciting violence, racism and support for terrorism in 2019. Gopstein and his affiliated groups have been sanctioned by Singapore, the UK, Canada and the former Biden administration for acts of violence against Palestinian and Arab communities.

Ben-Gvir's personal aide, Osher Gabay and far-right activist Mordechai David were also present, according to Haaretz.

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Israel national security minister served golden death penalty noose birthday cake

Israel’s national security minister celebrated his 50th birthday with agolden noose on his cakejust over a month after he successfully ...

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Rudy Giuliani hospitalized in critical condition, spokesperson says

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has been hospitalized and is in "critical but stable condition," his spokesperson, Ted Goodman, said in a statement Sunday.

"Mayor Giuliani is a fighter who has faced every challenge in his life with unwavering strength, and he's fighting with that same strength now," Goodman said. "We do ask that you join us in prayer for America's Mayor Rudy Giuliani."

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There was no immediate reason given for the 81-year-old's hospitalization.

This is a breaking news story. It will be updated.

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Rudy Giuliani hospitalized in critical condition, spokesperson says

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has been hospitalized and is in "critical but stable condition," his spokesperson, T...

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