The Eta Aquariid meteor shower is nearing its peak, offering opportunities for viewing across the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The annual event originates from cosmic material left behind by Halley's Comet.
Each year around this time, Earth passes through a stream of ice and rock dispersed by Halley's Comet. This renowned comet completes an orbit of the inner solar system roughly every 76 years, but its trail of debris results in two meteor showers annually: the Eta Aquariids in the spring and the Orionids in the autumn.
The Eta Aquariids are active from mid-April through late May. Expert projections vary slightly, but the shower is widely expected to reach its peak viewing period over the mornings of May 4, 5, and 6.
The time around 2 a.m. local time is often considered optimal for observing the meteors. Viewers should allow approximately 30 minutes for their eyes to adjust to darkness before looking skyward. Avoiding bright lights, such as cell phones, helps preserve night vision.
Visibility of the shower is influenced by location. Observers in the Southern Hemisphere generally have better views, potentially seeing more than 50 meteors per hour under clear skies. In the Northern Hemisphere, typical rates during the peak are 10 to 15 meteors per hour in favorable conditions.
Getting away from city lights greatly enhances viewing prospects. Locations with less light pollution provide darker skies, which allows fainter meteors to be seen.
These meteors are recognized for their speed, traveling into Earth's atmosphere at high velocity. They can leave behind glowing trails that persist for several seconds.
No specialized equipment like telescopes is necessary to watch the shower. The meteors are visible to the naked eye from any dark location.
Bill Cooke of NASA described the Eta Aquarids as "pretty fast meteors".