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The Eta Aquarid meteor shower has its most sighting period in early May.
In the midst of the grueling coronavirus quarantine that has millions around the world at home, a good plan for one night this week may be to turn to look at the sky.
Meteor shower Eta Aquarids It reaches its maximum splendor in the first days of May of each year. And this 2020 the conditions to appreciate the show may be better than on other occasions.
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Those with the ability to stay up until dawn (like students who don’t have classes) can also benefit from the clearer skies due to low polluting activity in the cities.
This works in favor of the best observation of the sky at night, which coincides with the passage of Earth through the debris trail from Halley’s Comet, which generates the rain of the Eta Aquarids.
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Debris left behind by Halley’s Comet hundreds of years ago generates the Eta Aquarid meteor shower.
“These meteors are fast: they travel to 66 kilometers per second within Earth’s atmosphere, “explains the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
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And in the case of Eta Aquarids, they are usually seen up to 30 meteors per hour during the peak moment, that is, this week, and in particular the morning of May 5.
How to see the Eta Aquarids?
To see a meteor shower, also colloquially called a star shower, you don’t have to have any special gear. The simple observation from heaven is enough.
However, it is preferable to locate in a point where you can see the entire range of the skyBecause it is common for Eta Aquarids to be sighted in areas close to the horizon.
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Having a clear sky and a wide view is enough to appreciate the meteor shower.
The largest sightings, which this year reached their highest point in the early hours of May 5, usually occur in hours before sunrise, but from midnight they begin to be visible.
“After about 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adjust and you will start to see meteors. Be patient: the show will last until dawn, so you have plenty of time to take a look,” says NASA.
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In the case of Latin America, in the countries of south america there is better chances of sighting (two thirds more than in the north of the continent) due to the position of the constellation from which they come.
“The constellation Aquarius, home to the radiant Eta Aquarids, is higher in the sky in the southern hemisphere than in the northern hemisphere,” explains NASA.
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But with good conditions, this meteor shower can be seen in both the north and south.
Where are you from?
Eta Aquarids originate from Halley’s Comet which orbits the Sun approximately every 76 years and that at this moment it is plunged into the depths of the solar system.
His next appearance on Earth will be in the year 2061.
“When comets get closer to the Sun, they leave a dusty trail behind them. Every year, Earth passes through these debris trails, allowing parts to collide with our atmosphere where they disintegrate to create fiery, colorful streaks in the sky, “says NASA.
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Halley’s Comet will pass again close to Earth in 2061.
The particles that make up this meteor shower are not those from the last time Halley’s Comet passed through Earth’s neighborhood (1986), but the ones that they separated from the comet hundreds of years ago.
Currently they come from an area close to the bright star Eta Aquarii, that is why they are called Eta Aquarids.
The Eta Aquarid period lasts from April 21 to May 20 of each year.
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