Eta Aquarid meteor shower reaches peak activity this week

This week, one of the fastest meteor showers of the year, the Eta Aquarids, will reach their peak, providing astronomy enthusiasts with a spectacular show that will feature as many as 30 meteors per hour traveling nearly 150,000 mph under peak visibility conditions.

The Eta Aquarids have been visible since April 19, according to the New York Times, but are set to reach their peak on May 5 and 6 before ending sometime around May 28. They are caused by the Earth traveling through a ring of debris left behind by Halley’s comet, the newspaper said.

Just how fast do these meteors travel? “If you blink, you’re not going to see them. They move that fast,” Bill Cooke, an astronomer with NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office (MEO), said to the Times. While typically no larger than a grain of sand, they often have the same velocity as a .357-caliber bullet, which is “why they leave these brilliant streaks in the atmosphere.”

Skywatchers in the Southern Hemisphere will get the best show

The Eta Aquarids are one of two meteor showers created by our planet’s interaction with the ring of debris left behind by Halley’s comet. The other, known as the Orionids, can be seen during the month of October – but if you’d rather not wait, here’s how to best see this month’s display.

While the shower is expected to peak in teams of the greatest number of objects produced on the 5th and 6th of May, EarthSky notes that a decent number of meteors should also be visible on the 4th and 7th. The best time to watch will be during the predawn hours, and stargazers living in the Southern Hemisphere will have the best view, with 20 to 30 meteors per hour visible at peak.

As for those of us living in the north, the Times said that we will only be able to see between 10 and 15 meteors per hour during prime viewing periods, which while somewhat disappointing at least means that the Eta Aquarids will put on a better show than last month’s Lyrids. While the meteors can been seen in most parts of the sky, those wishing to find their origin should look to the eastern part of the sky, towards the constellation Aquarius, National Geographic noted.

“The best views will be from the countryside, away from city light pollution,” the publication added. “But you can probably catch a few of the brighter meteors, including a couple of fireballs, sweeping through the upper atmosphere even from a suburban backyard.” No special telescopes or other instruments will be needed, but viewers should be sure to provide ample time (at least 20 minutes) to allow their eyes to adjust to the dark before going meteor hunting.

—–

Image credit: Colin Legg

The post Eta Aquarid meteor shower reaches peak activity this week appeared first on Redorbit.

redOrbit.com
offers Science, Space, Technology, Health news, videos, images and reference information. For the latest science news, space news, technology news, health news visit redOrbit.com frequently. Learn something new every day.”