Stargazers of Melbourne! We bring good news. Melbourne's skies are set to fizz with an extremely bright meteor shower that goes by the name of Eta Aquariid. This celestial event has been described as “the second best meteor shower of the year for Australian sky watchers” by astronomy experts.
The annual meteor shower – which is formed from debris from Halley’s comet – will light up the sky above Australia this weekend, peaking early on Monday morning. That start-of-week meeting might suffer, but this year’s show is predicted to be the best in the 21st century. The Eta Aquariid shower is a fast-moving and notoriously unpredictable show, and scientists say that according to their models, the meteors should be unusually active this year – with their high speed also making them appear brighter to the naked eye. Plus, this year’s show is set to be especially spectacular to witness based on its timing; coinciding with a new moon on May 7, the skies will be particularly dark, meaning catching sight of something sparkly will be easier than ever.
If you're keen to see these celestial sights for yourself, here's what you need to know.
How can I see the Eta Aquariids meteor shower from Melbourne?
The best way to see them in Australia is to scan the northern horizon near the point of the Aquarius constellation, where the meteors are set to emerge from. You’ll know you’re looking in the right place if you're looking at a spot where there's not much else to see except Saturn, which will also be particularly bright between 3 and 5am.
When will the Eta Aquariids meteor shower be at its peak?
Though the meteor shower is set to be visible from Melbourne from 1.30am onwards for a couple of days this weekend, it’s set to peak in the few hours before dawn on Monday, May 6 – when between 20 and 30 meteors are expected to light up the sky each hour.
So, we've got the opportunity to watch our skies light up with some serious starry action. You’ll want to set those alarms, rug up and head outside to an ideal stargazing spot. It's not every night that you get to bear witness to a 2000-year-old celestial show.
Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.