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Meteor showers occur when Earth is charged by debris trails left by comets or asteroids.
This image provided by NASA shows the Eta Aquarid meteorite streaking over northern Georgia on April 29, 2012. (B. Cooke/Marshall Space Flight Center/NASA via AP, File) AP
NEW YORK (AP) — The Eta Aquarid meteor shower will soon light up the sky with debris from Halley’s Comet. But the bright moon will spoil the fun this year, making it difficult to see.
Rainfall will reach its peak Tuesday night until Wednesday morning. Viewers from the Southern Hemisphere typically see 50 meteors per hour during peak, but an intervening moon could cut that number by half. In the north, sky watchers will likely see less than 10 per hour.
“For us in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s not going to be that impressive,” said Terry Gee, director of the Barlow Planetarium in Wisconsin. “The further south you are, the better you see it.”
Meteor showers occur when Earth is charged by debris trails left by comets or asteroids. These pieces collide with the Earth’s atmosphere at extremely high speeds, producing streaks of light also known as shooting stars.
On any given night, a handful of stray meteors can be seen under the dark sky. Meteor showers produce the most spectacular display and occur at predictable times each year.
Most meteor showers are caused by cometary debris, and Eta Aquaridus features debris as one of the most famous. Halley’s Comet passes near the Earth approximately every 76 years on its journey around the sun. The next one will swing in 2061.
To catch a glimpse of these meteors, it’s best to go out just before dawn. Stay away from city lights and tall buildings to get a clear view of the sky. In this case, it may also be helpful to find a place that obscures the luminous gibbous Moon, which will be 84% full.
Bring blankets and lawn chairs. Avoid looking at your phone and give your eyes time to get used to the dark. Look to the east near the constellation Aquarius and the bright star Eta Aquarius.
“You’re looking for bright lines that appear in the corner of your eye for a split second,” said astrophysicist Nico Adams of SSP International, a nonprofit that promotes STEM education.
Gee said there is no better way to enjoy the show than to experience it firsthand.
“It’s like you’re discovering it yourself,” she said.
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