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Sky watchers can expect to see several shooting stars on Tuesday night, as Earth passes through the remaining dust from Halley’s Comet.
The Eta Aquariid meteor shower is expected to peak at night on May 5, with up to 40 meteors per hour, and will be visible until the early hours of May 6.
This celestial display is associated with Halley’s Comet, officially designated 1P / Halley, which orbits the sun once every 76 years.
Tania de Sales Marques, an astronomer at the Royal Greenwich Observatory, told the PA news agency: “The last time [Halley’s Comet] He was seen in heaven in 1986, and our next chance to see him will be in late 2061. “
Eta Aquariids takes its name from the constellation Aquarius in the southern hemisphere, where shooting stars seem to originate.
Halley’s Comet meteorites hit Earth’s atmosphere at an approximate speed of 150,000 miles per hour (240,000kph), burning in the process.
Mrs. De Sales Marques told PA: “When a comet approaches the sun, it warms up, releasing gas and dust into the space behind it.
“When that trail of debris intersects Earth’s orbit, we experience meteor showers, as the particles fall toward Earth and heat up as they enter the atmosphere, leaving bright streaks in the sky as they evaporate or evaporate. break. “
While the Eta Aquariids is active from late April to late May, Ms De Sales Marques says the best time to see it will be the night of May 5-6 between midnight and sunrise, when the shower will be on its heyday.
Mrs. De Sales Marques told PA: “This is a moderately active meteor shower, with a maximum rate of 40 meteors per hour, and although its radiant will be below or only above the horizon for those of us in the London latitude, we can still watch out for your meteorites all over the sky.
“Our best chance will be in the hours just before sunrise, against the eastern sky.”
She advises moving away from all artificial lights to increase the chances of catching a glimpse of shooting stars on a moonlit night.
Mrs. De Sales Marques said: “As with any other stargazing activity, the best way to see meteorites is to find yourself in a place protected from city lights with a clear view of the sky and look in the direction radiant.
“The moon will become gibbous all night, so the sky will not be as dark as might be expected, adding to the challenge.”
