The Eta Aquariid meteor shower has returned this month and is sending shooting stars across British skies.
The Eta Aquariids take place when the Earth passes through the tail of Halley’s Comet, which passes Earth every 76 years. The shower is created by debris from Halley’s Comet, like the Orionid meteor shower — which was observed in October. It is often spelled with one ‘i’ instead of two.
Eta is, Royal Museums Greenwich says, moderately active. Its name comes from the constellation in the night sky (Aquarius) that it appears to radiate from.
“The beautiful streaks we see in the night sky can actually be caused by particles as small as a grain of sand,” says the Royal Museums Greenwich, which is home to the Royal Observatory Greenwich, the iconic tea clipper Cutty Sark, the National Maritime Museum and the Queen’s House art gallery, in east London.
“Meteors are pieces of debris which enter our planet’s atmosphere at speeds of up to 70 kilometres (43 miles) per second, vaporising and causing the streaks of light we call meteors.”
Here is all you need to know about the Eta Aquariid meteor shower.
When is the Eta Aquariid meteor shower?
The Eta Aquariid meteor shower is active between April 19 and May 28, 2023. It will peak between midnight and dawn on May 6, 2023.
Where is the best place to see the Eta Aquariid meteor shower?
It is advised to find a safe location away from street lights and other sources of light pollution.
The shower favours the southern hemisphere (the constellation Aquarius is easiest to see there). It will appear low in the sky for northerly latitudes (such as the UK) in the early predawn hours, Royal Museums Greenwich says.
“Nevertheless, it should still be possible to see the shower in the eastern sky, even when the radiant is below the horizon,” it adds.
What is the best time to watch a meteor shower?
Unlike most major annual meteor showers, the Royal Museums says there is no sharp peak for Eta. There is instead a plateau of good rates that last approximately a week.
You don’t need specialist equipment to view it. However, viewers are advised to allow up to 20 minutes to ensure their eyes adjust to the dark.
It is a waiting game, so you may want to sit in a comfy chair. However, the effect should be possible to see with the naked eye.
