The Eta Aquariid meteor shower is set to illuminate the skies this week, reaching its peak on the night of 5–6 May. For optimal viewing, look east before dawn, as the shower's radiant point climbs into the south-eastern sky by 4am on 6 May.
How to Watch the Meteor Shower
To observe the Eta Aquariids, do not stare directly at the radiant point. Instead, focus on the surrounding sky, where meteors will appear streaking away from the radiant. These meteors often leave fine, persistent trails as tiny dust particles burn up in Earth's atmosphere at speeds of approximately 65 kilometres per second.
Origin of the Meteors
Each speck of dust originates from Halley's Comet, shed over thousands of years as part of its tail. Every May, Earth passes through this stream of debris, creating the annual meteor shower.
While the southern hemisphere typically offers the best views due to a higher radiant, this year a bright waning gibbous moon may obscure fainter meteors. Nevertheless, observers can expect to see around a dozen bright meteors per hour under clear skies.
