Attention celestial sighting enthusiasts! May has an exciting spectacle in store for stargazers. Melbourne's skies are set to sparkle with a super bright meteor shower called Eta Aquarid, 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 week, peaking in the early hours of Wednesday, May 7. The Eta Aquarid shower is a fast-moving and notoriously unpredictable show, with their high speed also making them appear brighter to the naked eye.
If you're keen to see these scintillating sights for yourself, here's what you need to know.
How can I see the Eta Aquarids meteor shower from Melbourne?
Melbourne stargazers 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.
The best way to see them 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. Importantly, you'll need a cloud-free sky and quite a lot of patience, as meteor sightings can be quite sporadic.
When will the Eta Aquarids meteor shower be at its peak?
Though the meteor shower is set to be visible from Melbourne from 1.30am onwards for the next couple of days, it’s set to peak in the few hours before dawn on Wednesday, May 7 – 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, away from city lights. It's not every night that you get to bear witness to a 2000-year-old celestial show.
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