Eta Aquarids meteor shower: When, how to watch
Meteor showers explained: what to know and how to watch
We call them shooting stars, but it's actually meteors that create dazzling streaks of light across our night sky. (FOX Weather)
May is now in full swing, and this means the Eta Aquarids meteor shower is underway and set to peak soon.
Halley's comet swings near Earth every 75 years. But debris left by the comet leads to this major meteor shower every year.
When this meteor shower lights up the night sky, "you'll know that Earth is crossing the path of the most famous comet," Shauna Edson of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum told The Associated Press.
What is the Eta Aquarids meteor shower?
The Eta Aquarids get their namesake from the constellation of Aquarius, from which they appear to radiate in the sky.
According to NASA, this spring meteor shower is known for its speed. These meteors can zoom across the sky at more than 40 miles per second.
A Perseid meteor streaks across the sky above desert pine trees on August 13, 2015 in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, Nevada. (Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The Eta Aquarids are "pretty fast meteors," NASA's Bill Cooke told The AP.
In addition, they leave glowing "trains" of debris after the meteor is gone, which can last up to a few minutes.
When in the Eta Aquarids meteor shower?
Dig deeper:
The Eta Aquarids meteor shower began on April 19 and is active through May 28.
This year’s peak activity will happen between May 5 and 6 and should offer a good show with a Waxing Gibbous Moon about 60% full, creating a mostly dark sky.
During Tuesday morning’s peak, expect to see 10 to 15 meteors per hour in ideal viewing conditions, said Cooke.
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.
This means that you don’t need special equipment to see the various meteor showers that flash across annually, just a spot away from city lights.
Also, keep looking up, not down. Your eyes will be better adapted to spot shooting stars if you aren’t checking your phone.
Where can I watch Eta Aquarids meteor shower?
However, according to FOX Weather, the moon will be nearly two-thirds full, which will likely reduce visibility.
The Aquarids are visible from both the Northern and Southern hemispheres in the pre-dawn hours, but the Southern Hemisphere has the better view.
RELATED: May stargazing guide: A (smaller) Flower Moon and Eta Aquarids meteor shower
Hourly meteor rates in the Northern Hemisphere are only about 10 meteors per hour, with up to 50 for those in the Southern Hemisphere under ideal conditions.
According to NASA, the meteors appear low in the sky in the Northern Hemisphere, appearing to skim the surface of the Earth on the horizon line.
When is the next meteor shower, full moon?
What's next:
This month's full Moon is rightfully nicknamed the Flower Moon. The full Flower Moon's peak illumination happens on May 12 at 12:56 p.m. EDT, but the Moon will appear full on the two nights before and after this date.
The next major meteor shower, the Southern Delta Aquarids, peaks in late July.
What is a meteor shower?
The backstory:
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 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."
The Source: The information for this story was provided by FOX Weather, The Associated Press. This story was reported from Los Angeles.