Billed as one of the best meteor showers of the year, the annual appearance of the Eta Aquarids always has skygazers in a fervour.
Born from the debris of Halley’s comet, which swings near the Earth every 75 years, “Halley’s crumbs” are set to peak on Tuesday and will be more vivid in the southern hemisphere than in the northern hemisphere.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean it will be impossible to see them in Europe.
When this meteor shower lights up the night sky, “you’ll know that Earth is crossing the path of the most famous comet,” said Shauna Edson of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.
The Eta Aquarids are “pretty fast meteors,” said NASA’s Bill Cooke.
What are the Eta Aquarids?
As the Earth orbits the Sun, several times a year, it passes through debris left by passing comets and sometimes asteroids. The source of the Eta Aquarids is the debris from Halley’s comet.
When these fast-moving space rocks enter Earth’s atmosphere, the debris encounters new resistance from the air and becomes very hot, eventually burning up.
Sometimes the surrounding air glows briefly, leaving behind a fiery tail – the end of a “shooting star”.
You don’t need special equipment to see the various meteor showers that flash across annually, just a spot away from city lights.
When can you expect to see them?
They are better seen in the southern hemisphere due to the location they originate from in the Water of Aquarius constellation – hence the name aquarids – which favours viewing from southern parts of the world.
In the northern hemisphere, they can still be seen, but the conditions are less favourable.
During Tuesday morning’s peak, if you live in Europe and North America, you can expect to see between 10 to 15 meteors per hour in ideal viewing conditions, said Cooke.
This is compared to over 50 per hour in southern regions, according to the Meteor Calendar of the International Meteor Organisation (IMO).
It added that it was more likely that the shower would produce a greater number of meteor trains – the trail of ionised gas behind the meteor – than fireballs.
However, the Moon will be nearly two-thirds full, which will likely reduce visibility.
Viewing of the shower lasts until May 28.
How do you view a meteor shower?
The best time to watch a meteor shower is in the early predawn hours when the moon is low in the sky.
Competing sources of light, such as a bright moon or artificial glow, are the main obstacles to a clear view of meteors. Cloudless nights when the moon wanes smallest are optimal viewing opportunities.
And keep looking up, not down. Your eyes will be better adapted to spot shooting stars if you aren’t checking your phone.
The next major meteor shower, the Southern Delta Aquarids, peaks in late July.
