Our universe may be full of cosmic wonders, but you can only observe a fraction of astronomical phenomena with the naked eye. Meteor showers, the natural fireworks that streak brightly across the night sky, are one of them.
The last observable meteor shower will be the Eta Aquarids, which have been active since April 19 and are predicted to continue until May 28. They peak May 4 to 5, or Saturday night into Sunday morning.
The Eta Aquarid meteor shower is known for its fast fireballs, which appear as Earth passes through the debris left by Halley’s Comet.
Sometimes spelled Eta Aquariid, this shower is most easily seen from the southern tropics. But a lower rate of meteors will also be visible in the northern hemisphere near sunrise. With the moon just a thin sliver in the sky, viewers could be in for a powerful show this year.
Where do meteor showers come from?
There’s a chance you’ll see a meteor any night, but you’re most likely to catch one during a shower. Meteor showers are caused by Earth passing through debris following a comet or asteroid as it swings around the sun. This debris, which can be as small as a grain of sand, leaves behind a bright stream of light as it burns up in Earth’s atmosphere.
The meteor shower happens around the same time every year and can last for days or weeks. But there is only a small window when each shower is at its peak, which is when Earth reaches the densest part of cosmic debris. Peak is the best time to look for showers. From our point of view on Earth, the meteors will appear to come from the same spot in the sky.
The Perseid meteor shower, for example, peaks in mid-August from the constellation Perseus. Gemini, which appears every December, is emitted from the constellation Gemini.
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How to watch a meteor shower
Michelle Nichols, the director of public observation at Adler Planetarium in Chicago, recommends not using telescopes or binoculars while watching a meteor shower.
“You just need your eyes and, ideally, a dark sky,” he said.
This is because meteors can be thrown across large areas of the sky, so observing equipment can limit your field of view.
Some showers are powerful enough to produce up to 100 streaks per hour, according to the American Meteor Societyalthough you probably won’t see that many.
“Almost everyone is under a slightly polluted sky,” Ms Nicholls said. “You might think you’re under a dark sky, but in reality, even in a small town, you can have bright lights nearby.”
Planetariums, local astronomy clubs or even maps like this it can help you figure out where to get away from too much light. The best conditions to catch a meteor shower are a clear sky with no moon or clouds, sometime between midnight and sunrise. (Moonlight affects visibility in the same way as light pollution, washing out fainter sources of light in the sky.) Be sure to give your eyes at least 30 minutes to adjust to seeing in the dark.
Ms. Nichols also recommends wearing layers, even in the summer. “You’re going to sit there for a long time and watch,” he said. “It’s going to be cold, even in August.”
Bring a cup of cocoa or tea for even more warmth. Then sit back, scan the sky and enjoy the show.