Here’s How to Best Watch the Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower
The Eta Aquarid meteor shower, active from mid-April to late May, will peak on May 5-6, offering viewers a chance to see up to 50 meteors per hour. The meteors originate from debris left by Halley’s comet and enter Earth's atmosphere at speeds around 40 miles per second. Observers are advised to find dark, open areas away from light pollution, though bright moonlight may hinder visibility this year.
- ▪The Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks on May 5-6, with up to 50 meteors visible per hour.
- ▪The meteors come from debris shed by Halley’s comet as it travels through the inner solar system.
- ▪These meteors enter Earth’s atmosphere at about 40 miles per second and can leave glowing trails.
- ▪Bright moonlight during the peak may make fainter meteors harder to see.
- ▪No special equipment is needed to view the shower, but eyes need 20-30 minutes to adjust to the dark.
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In just a few days, you could have the chance to see a meteor shower at its peak.The Eta Aquarid meteor shower started nearly two weeks ago, and will continue for most of this month. But the best opportunity you have to see the most meteors streaking across the sky will be next week.Here’s everything you need to know about the celestial phenomenon and how to watch it.What is the Eta Aquarid meteor shower?Often called “shooting stars” or “falling stars,” meteors are caused by space debris burning up as they travel through the Earth’s atmosphere, leaving streaks of light in the sky. You can see a few meteors each hour on a typical night under the right conditions. But meteor showers are special because you can see many more meteors in the same short time frame.
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