How to watch the meteor shower at its peak

(WJW) – The stars have aligned for one of the best meteor showers of 2024.

The Eta Aquariid meteor shower is caused by debris from Halley’s Comet, according to Espaço.com. We get a chance to see the Eta Aquariid meteors every May when Earth passes through the orbit of Halley’s Comet.

This year, the rain is expected to be even more special as it peaks when we have a new moon, NASA explains.

This means the sky will get even darker just before dawn.

In the Southern Hemisphere, NASA says viewers can see up to 40 meteors per hour. For us in the Northern Hemisphere, however, we can expect 10 to 20 per hour.

When to watch the Eta Aquariid meteor shower

The rain is already underway (it started in mid-April) but is expected to peak on the weekend of May 4th and 5th.

The best time to see the meteors, which can appear very long and bright, is an hour or two before dawn, NASA explains. Eta Aquariids meteors frequently appear on the horizon, giving them the nickname “Earthgrazers.”

For the best viewing, NASA recommends looking directly at the sky while lying on the ground with your feet facing east.

Researchers say this year’s Eta Aquariid meteor shower could be the best we see this entire century. You have until May 27th to take advantage of it.

Earth will cross the orbit of Halley’s Comet again in October, giving us the opportunity to see the Orionid meteor shower.