Pack the picnic blanket, hot cocoa and a pair of binoculars. Early this week, Australian skies will come alive with an extremely bright meteor shower that goes by the name of the Eta Aquarids. You’re going to want to set those alarms, rug up and head outside, because it's not every night that you get to bear witness to a 2,000-year-old celestial show. Here’s everything you need to know about catching the Eta Aquarids in Australia from May 5 to 7.
What is the Eta Aquarids meteor shower?
The Eta Aquarid shower is a fast-moving and notoriously unpredictable celestial show that occurs when the Earth passes through the debris left behind by the better-known Halley’s Comet. What makes the Eta Aquarid particularly spectacular is its speed, with the meteors travelling at around 50 kilometres per second.
Every year, the Eta Aquarids typically light up the skies between April 19 and May 28, with peak activity usually occurring in early to mid-May.
When to see the Eta Aquarids meteor shower in Australia?
Stargazers in Australia will have their best chance at seeing the Eta Aquarids between 2am and 5.40am local time from Monday, May 5 to Wednesday, May 7. The meteor shower is set to reach its maximum around 2am on May 7.
During this time, look to the eastern skies and you should begin to see a sporadic smattering of meteors lighting up the sky. The keyword here is sporadic: meteor showers are notoriously hard to predict. You might find yourself staring at the sky for a long time before suddenly catching several sparkly spectacles in a row. The best way to see them from Australia is to scan the northern horizon near the point of the Aquarius constellation where the meteors are set to emerge from (for help on this one, you might want to turn to a constellation map app).
How to see the Eta Aquarids meteor shower in Australia?
Like the Lyrid meteor shower in April, you don’t need any fancy equipment or insider astronomical knowledge to see it. Of course, the number one thing we can hope for is clear skies, and we’d also suggest finding a place far away from artificial city lights.
Remember to give your eyes enough time (around 30 minutes) to adjust to the darkness. Yes, that means no peeping at your phones.
When is the next Eta Aquarids meteor shower?
The Eta Aquarids meteor shower happens in autumn each year, peaking from mid-April to early May.
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