The fast - move shot virtuoso of the Eta Aquariid meteor shower bath are easy to view , making thisastronomical eventone to watch in leap . The shower peaks on the dawning of May 5 , 2021 , but it should still be seeable the retiring and follow nights . Here ’s everything you need to know to catch it .
What Is the Eta Aquariid meteor shower?
Earth passes through the debris trail left by Halley ’s comet twice a year . This results in two shooting star shower : theOrionidsin October and the Eta Aquariids inMay . The Eta Aquariid meteor shower is known for its speed , with sprout headliner displace at roughly148,000 mph . The event is well regard from theSouthern Hemisphere , where it ’s consider one of the most active showers of the class . In the Northern Hemisphere , you may require the Eta Aquariids to peak at around 10 to 20 meteoroid per hr .
What direction do the Eta Aquariid meteors come from?
The Eta Aquariid meteor appear to radiate from the constellation Aquarius . In the 60 minutes before dawn , this radiant will seat above the east - southeastward horizon . The shower is n’t cite for Aquarius , but rather a specific wiz in the configuration . Eta Aquarii is the name of one of the stars form the water newsboy ’s jar .
When is the best time to see the Eta Aquariids?
The best prison term to catch the Eta Aquariids are the pre - dawn minute on Wednesday , May 5 , 2021 . If you ca n’t make it outside that first light , attempt looking up at the same time on Tuesday , May 4 , or Thursday , May 6 . You will still have a near barb at make out shooting whizz in the days surrounding the shower ’s peak . If you have a choice , you should taste catching the shooting star later in the hebdomad rather than sooner . Thewaning crescent moonwill be dimmer — and less potential to moisten out the stars — on May 5th and 6th .
