When can you see the Eta Aquariid meteor shower 2023?<\/h2>\n
The Eta Aquariid meteor shower has a fairly long activity period of around five weeks, and is active between 19 April and 28 May<\/strong>, peaking on the night of 5\/6 May<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Viewing conditions are not ideal this year, however, as the meteor shower peaks at the same time as the full Flower Moon. When the sky is too bright, meteors get drowned out by the Moon\u2019s light, so where possible, it\u2019s better to look to the night sky during a new Moon, or crescent Moon phase.<\/p>\n \u201cSince the light of the Full Moon will completely outshine all but the brightest of these shooting stars, it will be best to wait a few weeks for moonlight to stop interfering and take a look then instead,\u201d advises Dr Darren Baskill,<\/a>\u00a0astronomy lecturer at the University of Sussex.<\/p>\n However, if you\u2019re feeling lucky and want to brave the light of the full Moon, head out just before sunrise on the morning of Saturday 6 May.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re determined to spot a meteor from the Eta Aquariid shower this year, here\u2019s how you can maximise your chances, despite the full Moon:<\/p>\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 the celestial equator, close to the Water Jar asterism<\/a> in the constellation Aquarius.<\/p>\n \u201cUnfortunately, this meteor shower is not favourable for those of us in the UK for another reason [aside from the full Moon].\u00a0 The meteors will appear to originate from a point below the horizon, as the Earth is travelling in that direction as it orbits around the Sun<\/a>.\u00a0 This means that, for observers in the UK, the majority of shooting stars will be hidden below the horizon,\u201d explains Baskill.<\/p>\n But there are other sights to look out for, and you may also be able to glimpse Saturn, as it lurks near to the double star Sigma Aquarii. Aquarius itself only starts to peep above the eastern horizon from around 2am, and is not fully risen by the time the Sun rises at 5:23am (UK time).<\/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.<\/p>\n To find the radiant, locate the two stars in the\u00a0Great Square of Pegasus<\/a>, the red giant Beta Pegasi (aka Scheat) and Alpha Pegasi (aka Markab) \u2013 these are the top-most and the right-hand star in the constellation.<\/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.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re having trouble picking out Eta Aquarii, you could always use a\u00a0star-gazing app<\/a>\u00a0to help you out.<\/p>\n Since Hubert A Newton\u2019s observations of a series of historical meteor showers began in 1863, the position of the radiant for the Eta Aquariids has remained relatively constant. As a result, once you\u2019ve got your eye on where to look, you\u2019ll be a pro for next year. In 2024, we can expect much better conditions thanks to the peak being centred around a nice, dark new Moon.<\/p>\n When the Eta Aquariid meteor shower reaches its peak on 6 May 2023, the maximum zenithal hourly rate (ZHR) will be around 60 meteors per hour. However, the ZHR calculation assumes ideal conditions; clear skies and no light pollution, with the radiant directly overhead. Since the Eta Aquariids have a low-altitude radiant, it\u2019s unlikely that we will observe this many meteors, especially when you throw in a full Moon.<\/p>\n However, it is anticipated that approximately 25 per cent of these meteors will produce lingering trains in the sky. A tally counter is a useful way to keep track of the number you witness.<\/p>\n \u201cI would expect us to see a meteor every 10 to 20 minutes, from a dark location under clear skies in mid-May,\u201d says Baskill.<\/p>\n The radiant of the Eta Aquariid meteor shower is at its highest point in the sky just before midday, but it is not visible during daylight hours. However, the Springhill Meteor Observatory, located near Ottawa, used radar (radio-echo) techniques to detect the shower\u2019s peak activity between 1958 and 1967, observing as many as 500 meteors per hour<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Eta Aquarids are created by debris left behind by 1P\/Halley, more commonly known as Halley\u2019s Comet, which orbits the Sun once every 76 years. As the comet travels through the inner solar system, ice and dust in the comet evaporate, leaving a trail of debris in its wake. When the Earth passes through this debris trail, the particles enter our atmosphere and disintegrate, leaving bright streaks in the sky that we see as meteors.<\/p>\n There are two meteor showers associated with Halley\u2019s Comet; the Eta Aquariids in May and the Orionids in October. This is because Halley\u2019s Comet is in a retrograde orbit (orbiting the Sun in the opposite direction to Earth) and intersects with different parts of the comet\u2019s debris trail around the Sun.<\/p>\n Halley\u2019s Comet is composed of a mixture of volatile ice and dust, making it a crumbly \u2018dirty snowball\u2019 comet. It has been orbiting the Sun for at least 16,000 years, all the while leaving behind a trail of debris along its path. Its orbit is highly elliptical, like an elongated oval shape that stretches out beyond Neptune\u2019s orbit at its farthest point.<\/p>\n Because of its retrograde orbit, meteoroids from Halley\u2019s Comet enter Earth\u2019s atmosphere at relatively fast speeds of around 66km\/s. For observers here on Earth, this means they will appear as fast streaks, the brightest leaving long-lasting trains.<\/p>\n If you can, find an area away from light pollution. Although night temperatures on the 5\/6 May are expected to be fairly mild \u2013 around 11 to 12\u00b0C from London \u2013 we are due some light cloud cover and a spot of rain, so be sure to check your local weather forecast.<\/p>\n Assuming the weather is clear, it\u2019s best to lie back on a reclining chair, hammock, or blanket and allow your eyes to adapt to the darkness for at least 10 to 20 minutes.<\/p>\n With time and some patience, you\u2019ll gradually get used to spotting the meteor trails as they dart across the sky. While observing, it\u2019s advisable to avoid looking at other intense sources of light such as your mobile phone. However, if you must, it\u2019s best to use a red filter or a red light torch.<\/p>\n Darren is an outreach officer and lecturer in the department of physics and astronomy at the University of Sussex. He previously lectured at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, where he also initiated the annual Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition.\u00a0<\/p>\n Read more about space rocks:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> <\/section> <\/body><\/html>\n Here’s how to get the most from this year’s poor viewing conditions. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":27224,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"8"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2023\/05\/meteor-shower-tonight-how-to-see-the-may-2023-eta-aquariid-shooting-stars-scaled.jpg",2560,1090,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2023\/05\/meteor-shower-tonight-how-to-see-the-may-2023-eta-aquariid-shooting-stars-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2023\/05\/meteor-shower-tonight-how-to-see-the-may-2023-eta-aquariid-shooting-stars-300x128.jpg",300,128,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2023\/05\/meteor-shower-tonight-how-to-see-the-may-2023-eta-aquariid-shooting-stars-768x327.jpg",768,327,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2023\/05\/meteor-shower-tonight-how-to-see-the-may-2023-eta-aquariid-shooting-stars-1024x436.jpg",800,341,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2023\/05\/meteor-shower-tonight-how-to-see-the-may-2023-eta-aquariid-shooting-stars-1536x654.jpg",1536,654,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2023\/05\/meteor-shower-tonight-how-to-see-the-may-2023-eta-aquariid-shooting-stars-2048x872.jpg",2048,872,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Here's how to get the most from this year's poor viewing conditions.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/27223"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27224"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27223"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27223"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}How to maximise your chance of spotting a meteor tonight<\/h2>\n
Where to look to see a shooting star<\/h2>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2023\/05\/How-to-see-the-Eta-Aquariid-meteor-shower-May-2023-dd7f9d1.png?quality=90&resize=620%2C369"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>How many meteors will you be able to see?<\/h2>\n
Where do the Eta Aquariids come from?<\/h2>\n
Observing the Eta Aquariid Meteor Shower: Viewing tips<\/h2>\n
About our expert, Dr Darren Baskill<\/h4>\n
","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"