Astronomy buffs, here's a sparkly treat for you. Look out your windows tonight, not for the sounds of people clapping, but because a meteor shower is expected to light up Singapore's sky. Nature's fireworks will be at its peak at 2am, just two days before the next full moon on May 7. This comes after the recent Lyrid meteor shower in April.
Named the Eta Aquarid meteor shower, this natural phenomenon usually active between April 19 and May 28 every year. The Eta Aquarids is one of the two meteor showers created by Earth passing through the debris trail left behind by Halley's Comet. The next one, the Orionid meteor shower, is expected to peak around October 20. Here's an interesting fact: Comet Halley takes around 76 years to make a complete revolution around the Sun, and the next time it will be visible from Earth is in 2061 – so this is definitely a rare occurrence.
Unlike other annual meteor displays whose history can be traced back for hundreds or thousands of years, the Eta Aquariids were not "officially" discovered until the late 19th century, when Lieutenant Colonel G.L. Tupman sighted 15 meteors while sailing in the Mediterranean Sea in 1870. And while the Eta Aquarid meteor shower favours the Southern Hemisphere (most of South America, one-third of Africa, all of Antarctica, parts of Indonesia and all of Australia/Oceania), not all hope is lost. If you happen to be in an ulu part of Singapore with minimal city lights, look up for the elusive nature display. Visit EarthSky to find a dark location near you. Additionally, this interactive map can tell you exactly where to look.