The Eta Aquariid meteor shower is slated to light up the southern hemisphere skies tonight

Avid stargazers in the southern hemisphere will have a seat in the front row of the stunning Eta Aquariid meteor shower that will light up the sky tonight.

The meteor shower will peak between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Wednesday morning, presenting the best time for Australians to catch a glimpse of dozens of shooting stars looking east.

Eta Aquariids are created from tiny dust grains that gleam from Halley’s Comet that glimmer in the sky. every year from mid-April to the end of May.

Scroll down to watch the video

“Dust hits the atmosphere at 66 kilometers per second, burning at approximately 100 kilometers altitude, producing meteors or shooting stars,” Associate Professor Michael Brown of the Monash School of Physics and Astronomy told 9News.

Professor Brown said the best view is from dark skies in the country during clear weather conditions, however, “city dwellers can still see some of the brightest meteors crossing the sky.”

The Eta Aquariids, named after the constellation Aquarius when they fall from that point into the sky, are visible to the naked eye.

To find the correct position, there are applications available to locate the Aquarius address.

According to astrologers, the southern hemisphere is an ideal point of view as up to 40 meteors can be observed every hour at their peak compared to just ten in the northern hemisphere.

But those living farther west can expect to see a little more meteors, since the radiant point, the path from which meteorites appear to originate, is highest in the sky before sunrise.

“The best time to observe any meteor shower is after midnight, usually a few hours before sunrise, so on the morning of the 5th, look east,” said Melissa Hulbert of the Sydney Observatory.

‘This year, the Full Moon occurs on the 7th, however, the Moon will set at 3.28 a.m. in the west the 5th and twilight does not start until 5.37 a.m., and with Aquarius well above the eastern horizon, conditions should be good for observers. ‘

To view Eta Aquarids, NASA recommends packing a sleeping bag, blanket, or lawn chair and heading to an area away from the city or street lights.

“Lie on your back with your feet to the east and look up, observing as much of the sky as possible,” the council says.

‘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.