{"id":12093,"date":"2022-05-02T05:00:16","date_gmt":"2022-05-02T03:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sciencefocus.com\/?p=118233"},"modified":"2022-05-02T05:21:11","modified_gmt":"2022-05-02T03:21:11","slug":"eta-aquariid-meteor-shower-how-to-see-remnants-of-halleys-comet","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/rss_feed\/eta-aquariid-meteor-shower-how-to-see-remnants-of-halleys-comet\/","title":{"rendered":"Eta Aquariid meteor shower: How to see remnants of Halley\u2019s Comet"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Holly Spanner\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 02 May 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Hot off the heels of the Lyrid meteor shower<\/a> is the Eta Aquariid meteor shower, which is expected to hit its peak later this week.<\/p>\n

So, what is the best way of making sure you see the Eta Aquariid meteor<\/a> shower? What causes it in the first place? And when exactly should you look out for it? Answers to all this, and more, are below.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking for more stargazing tips, be sure to check out our\u00a0astronomy for beginners<\/a>\u00a0guide and our UK\u00a0full Moon calendar<\/a> to make the most of the night sky. For a full roundup of this year\u2019s meteor showers, we\u2019ve got all the essentials listed in our meteor shower calendar<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When can you see the Eta Aquariid meteor shower 2022 in the UK?<\/h2>\n

The Eta Aquariids began on 19 April 2022 and will be visible until 28 May 2022. The meteor shower peaks on 6 May, and we will be offered decent viewing conditions thanks to dark skies from a waxing crescent Moon that sets in the early hours at 1:39am.<\/p>\n

The best time to view the Eta Aquariids in 2022, will be between midnight and sunrise at 5:23am on the morning of the 6 May.<\/p>\n

However, if you miss the Aquariids at their peak, meteor spotters are often treated to very nice displays on the nights around the peak, and they\u2019ll be visible until the end of May.<\/p>\n

Where to look<\/h2>\n

The Eta Aquariids are visible from both hemispheres, although viewing favours the Southern Hemisphere. This is because the radiant \u2013 the point from which the meteors appear to originate \u2013 is near to the celestial equator, close to the Water Jar asterism in the constellation Aquarius.<\/p>\n

For those of us in the UK, this means that the meteor shower will appear at a low altitude in the sky, so we may be treated to meteors that appear to shoot up from the horizon. As dawn approaches, the radiant will climb higher in the sky, giving us a better opportunity to see particles of the most famous comet.<\/p>\n

To find the radiant, locate the two stars in the Great Square of Pegasus<\/a>, Scheat and Markab \u2013 this is the top-most star and the right-hand star in the diagram below, as viewed before Sunrise on the 6 May.<\/p>\n

Draw an imaginary line between these two stars and extend it for about the same distance again. Near here is the faint star Eta Aquarii, marking the apparent position of the radiant. If you\u2019re having trouble picking out Eta Aquarii, you could always use a star-gazing app<\/a> to help you out.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The faint star Eta Aquarii in the constellation Aquarius marks the apparent position of the radiant for the Eta Aquariids \u00a9 PA Graphics<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

This radiant hasn\u2019t changed much since semi-regular observations began of the Eta Aquariids back in 1863 when Hubert A. Newton noticed a coincidence in the dates of a series of showers in historical records. This means we can look forward to a similar viewing angle every year.<\/p>\n

How many meteors will you be able to see?<\/h2>\n

At its peak on 6 May 2022, the Eta Aquariid meteor shower has a maximum zenithal hourly rate (ZHR) of around 60 meteors per hour<\/a>. However, the ZHR assumes \u2018perfect\u2019 conditions: clear skies and no light pollution, as well as a radiant that is directly overhead. Given that the Eta Aquariids have such a low-altitude radiant, it\u2019s unlikely we\u2019ll see this many.<\/p>\n

That said, around one-quarter of these are expected to leave persistent trains in the sky, so if you have a tally counter to hand, this is a fun way to record how many you see!<\/p>\n

If we were able to view this meteor shower during the daylight hours, the radiant is highest in the sky just before midday. Using radar (radio-echo) techniques, the Springhill Meteor Observatory near Ottawa recorded as many as 500 meteors per hour at the shower\u2019s peak<\/a> between 1958 and 1967.<\/p>\n

Where do the Eta Aquariids come from?<\/h2>\n

Like the Orionids in October, the Eta Aquariids are the result of debris from 1P\/Halley, more commonly known as Halley\u2019s Comet.<\/p>\n

Halley\u2019s Comet is a crumbly, \u2018dirty snowball\u2019 comet, made of a mixture of volatile ices and dust<\/a>. It\u2019s been making its journey around the Sun for at least 16,000 years<\/a>, leaving a trail of debris along its orbit over the millennia. Its highly elliptical orbit stretches out around the Sun like an elongated oval, extending beyond the orbit of Neptune at its furthest point.<\/p>\n

Every time the Earth\u2019s orbit crosses this trail of debris, particles enter our atmosphere and disintegrate, leaving bright streaks in the sky.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
This view of Halley\u2019s Comet nucleus was obtained by the Halley Multicolour Camera (HMC) onboard the Giotto spacecraft, as it passed within 600 km of the comet nucleus on 13 March 1986. \u00a9 ESA\/MPAe Lindau<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Halley\u2019s Comet is in a retrograde orbit, meaning it orbits the Sun in the opposite direction to Earth (and the other planets). Meteoroids from Halley\u2019s Comet enter Earth\u2019s atmosphere at relatively fast speeds of around 66km\/s and will appear as fast streaks, the brightest leaving long-lasting trains.<\/p>\n

As a result of this retrograde orbit, there are two meteor showers associated with Halley\u2019s Comet. These are the Eta Aquariids in early May, and the Orionids in late October, as Earth intersects with the \u2018other side\u2019 of Halley\u2019s orbital path around the Sun.<\/p>\n

When will Halley\u2019s Comet return?<\/h2>\n

Halley\u2019s Comet was last seen gracing our skies in April 1986 and will return in 2061 during its 76-year orbit. It\u2019s the only (currently known) short-period (less than 200-year orbit) comet regularly visible to the naked eye, and the earliest recorded observation was by Chinese astronomers in 239 BC.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Halley\u2019s Comet has a highly elliptical orbit that takes it out further than the orbit of Neptune at its aphelion \u00a9 Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Where is Halley\u2019s Comet now?<\/h2>\n

Right now, Halley\u2019s Comet is approaching its aphelion point, the point in its orbit furthest from the Sun, and it is currently in the constellation Hydra. On 6 May 2022 when the Eta Aquariids peak, it will be 5,251.59 million km from the Sun<\/a>. It\u2019s predicted to reach aphelion in December 2023<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Viewing tips<\/h2>\n

If you can, find an area away from light pollution. Night temperatures on the 5\/6 May are expected to be fairly mild \u2013 around 10 to 11\u00b0C with a light cloud and low chance of precipitation here in Bristol \u2013 but be sure to check your local weather forecast. Even so, be sure to wrap up warm, as you\u2019re probably not going to be moving around much.<\/p>\n

Lie back in a reclining chair, hammock, or on a blanket, and let your eyes adjust to the darkness for around 10 to 20 minutes.<\/p>\n

After a while, and with a little patience, you\u2019ll find you become more accustomed to seeing the meteor trails as they streak across the sky. Try not to look at other bright sources of light (such as your phone) during this time. If you do, use a red filter.<\/p>\n

Read more about space rocks:<\/strong><\/p>\n