When is it and what to expect?

By Will Dunham

(Reuters) – Meteors will streak across the sky as Earth passes through dusty debris in space left by Halley’s Comet in the annual Eta Aquariid meteor shower, with activity peaking in early May.

Here is an explanation of this meteor shower.

WHAT IS A METEOR?

Meteors are space rocks and other materials that burn as they plummet through Earth’s atmosphere, leaving a bright streak across the sky. They are also called shooting stars or shooting stars, although they are not stars. Comets can be a source of meteor showers because they release dust and debris as they orbit the sun. Meteor showers occur annually or at regular intervals when our planet, during its orbit around the Sun, travels through trails of such debris.

WHY IS IT CALLED ETA AQUARIID METEOR SHOWER?

It is so named because the point of origin in the sky – called radiant – of the debris that burns in the atmosphere is in the constellation Aquarius – the “water bearer” – and close to Eta Aquarii, one of the brightest stars in the constellation and one of the four stars that make up the top of his “water jar”. Eta Aquarii and the other stars in the constellation have nothing to do with the cause of the meteors.

WHEN AND WHERE CAN YOU SEE THE METEOR SHOWER?

According to the American Meteor Society, the Eta Aquariids are active from April 16 to May 27, with the highest meteor rates from May 1 to May 10 and the peak on May 5. and southern hemispheres. The Southern Hemisphere offers an advantage because the constellation Aquarius is situated higher in the sky than in the Northern Hemisphere. Experts recommend watching the shower in the darkest skies possible because most meteor activity is faint. During the peak, about 30 meteors can be seen every hour, according to NASA.

WHAT DOES HALLEY’S COMET HAVE TO DO WITH IT?

Comets are icy remnants from the formation of the solar system, composed of rock, dust and ice. As they orbit closer to the Sun, they release dust and gases. Halley’s comet, named after the English astronomer Edmond Halley (1656-1742) who studied it, is considered the most famous. A 76-year orbital revolution around the sun is required. It was last seen in Earth’s skies in 1986 and will return in 2061, according to NASA. Debris released by Halley’s Comet causes the Eta Aquariid meteor shower. The Orionid meteor shower, which peaks in mid-October each year, is also driven by debris from Halley’s Comet.

HOW FAST DO THESE METEORS TRAVEL?

According to NASA, Eta Aquariid meteors are particularly fast, moving at about 148,000 miles per hour (238,000 km per hour) in Earth’s atmosphere. These fast-moving meteors can produce bright “trains” that last from seconds to minutes. The American Meteor Society said meteor rates are expected to increase this year due to debris disturbed by the gas giant planet Jupiter in a direction closer to Earth.

(Reporting by Will Dunham in Washington; Editing by Rosalba O’Brien)