Meteors will streak across the sky this weekend as Earth passes through the debris of Halley’s Comet.
The annual Eta Aquariid meteor shower peaks Sunday night through Monday morning, but should be visible, weather permitting, throughout the weekend.
Where to watch the show
You should see the meteors low in the sky if you look east before dawn. They are more easily visible in the Southern Hemisphere, but you can still spot them in the UK.
Of course, stargazing can depend on the weather. This weekend is very unstable.
The Met Office says its “computer models are disagreeing” on where the worst weather will occur in the UK.
Its cloud cover map currently suggests southern England will have the clearest night on Saturday, and most of Wales will have the best chances on Sunday.
If you see clear skies, head out before dawn and settle in.
“Meteor hunting, like the rest of astronomy, is a waiting game,” says the Royal Greenwich Observatory website.
“It’s best to bring a comfortable chair to sit in and warm up as you may be out for a while.”
You’ll need to allow your eyes to adjust to the dark, so try to stay away from sources of light pollution like street lights or houses.
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What is the Eta Aquariid meteor shower?
Named after Eta Aquarii, the star from which it appears to radiate, the meteor shower occurs annually.
Unlike most large annual meteor showers, there is no sharp peak. Instead, they are best seen on multiple days this time in May.
The meteors are the debris from Halley’s Comet.
This is particularly famous because, by observing it, astronomers realized for the first time that comets could pass through the solar system multiple times.
When historians investigated the matter, they realized that Halley’s Comet had been spotted by humans thousands of years ago. It even appears in the Bayeux Tapestry, which chronicles the Battle of Hastings in 1066, according to NASA.
Meteors appear in our skies when debris in space enters our atmosphere. Their speed means they heat up and begin to glow, leaving a trail that we can see when we look at the stars.
This story originally appeared on News.sky.com read the full story
