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The Eta Aquariids are about to reach their peak, as the sky is lit by the remains of Halley’s Comet.
Meteor shower lasts from late April to May, but peaks around the first week of the month, meaning they should be especially visible in the coming days. During their peak, up to 30 of the meteorites can be seen every hour.
One of the most notable things about the Eta Aquariids is their speed. They shoot into Earth’s atmosphere at about 150,000 mph, and can leave bright lines across the sky as their glowing debris gets in their way.
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The show will be best viewed in the southern hemisphere, as the constellation from which they emerge is higher up in the sky, and therefore any meteorite can be seen more easily. In the northern hemisphere, they will often seem to sneak across the horizon, giving them the name “Earthgrazers”.
As always, the key to seeing any meteor shower is to go to a relatively dark place so that light pollution doesn’t get in the way of sight. That can be complicated by coronavirus blockages and social estrangement, and any travel should only be done if recommended.
To get a view, look up at the sky and try to keep your gaze there. Over time, after about 30 minutes or so, your eyes should be able to see better in the dark, and any meteorites will come into view.
Meteor showers come when the Earth moves towards the debris of comets that have moved around our Solar System. As those leftovers collide with Earth’s atmosphere, they break apart and create blazing lights in the sky.
Every year, the Earth moves regularly through these pieces of rubble. That means meteor showers are predictable and occur at the same time each year.
The debris created by the Eta Aquariids originally comes from Halley’s Comet. When it makes its regular trips to the solar system, each orbit takes around 76 years, leaving new debris, and the leftovers from the same comet also lead to the Orionids in October.
