Eta Aquarids: Meteor shower set to cross paths with Earth
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The Eta Aquariids have arrived and the annual meteor shower is currently experiencing its peak. The Aquariids burst into our night skies from about mid-April and will stay with us until the end of the month. Stargazers, however, are in for a treat this week because the shower’s peak is when the real action will unfold.
Eta Aquariids are not the most bountiful of showers but viewers, particularly south of the equator, can expect to see between 30 and 40 meteors an hour.
These bright streaks that will cut across the night sky are bits and pieces of Halley’s Comet, which was last seen from Earth in 1986 and takes 76 years to orbit the Sun.
The comet leaves in its wake a dusty trail of debris and our planet happens to cross this path twice a year.
In April and May, the debris produces the Eta Aquariids shower, and in October and November, the debris is responsible for the Orionid shower.
How to see the Eta Aquariids meteor shower from the UK:
The Eta Aquariids are seen from both hemispheres, although views north of the equator won’t be as good, so keep that in mind.
The meteor shower peaks this year between midnight and dawn on May 5 and May 6.
You should still catch a glimpse of the meteors in the predawn hours on Friday as the shower’s peak is not as well defined as others.
The US space agency NASA explained: “The Southern Hemisphere is preferable for viewing the Eta Aquariids.
“The Northern Hemisphere has an hourly rate of only about 10 meteors.
“This is due to the viewing location of the radiant from different latitudes.”
Even with a reduced zenithal rate, the shower still promises to be an unforgettable experience and with just a few tips you can maximise your chances of seeing a shooting star.
The Eta Aquariids will appear to emerge from the constellation Aquarius in the east – the shower’s so-called radiant.
The shower is, after all, named after the constellation’s bright star Eta Aquarii.
The radiant is higher in the sky from the Southern Hemisphere.
As result, here in the UK, the meteors will streak close to the horizon and are sometimes known as “earthgrazers”.
NASA said: “Earthgrazers are long meteors that appear to skim the surface of the Earth at the horizon.”
You will, therefore, want to find a comfy spot with an unobstructed view of the horizon – somewhere like a field or big park with wide-open spaces.
You will also want to avoid all sources of light, such as buildings, cars and even your smartphone.
Give your eyes up to 20 minutes to adjust to the dark, after which try to kick back and enjoy the show.
NASA said: “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.”
You should have plenty of time to see the shower as the meteors will be active until dawn.
And the good news is you won’t need binoculars or a telescope – meteors are simply too fast to try and track with instruments.
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