14 DAY TRIAL // Each spring, Earth finds itself moving through debris left behind by Halley's Comet, otherwise known as 1P/Halley. When this happens, the Eta Aquarids meteor shower becomes visible high up in the sky.
This year, the meteor shower will peak on Wednesday, May 6, at about 9 a.m. EDT (Eastern Daylight Time). Around this time, pieces of debris entering Earth's atmosphere and igniting will produce meteors at a rate of about 30 per hour.
Probably not a very impressive shower
The bad news: it looks like the Moon will get in the way, and so space enthusiasts will only get to witness about 20 meteors per hour. Then again, 20 meteors is still better than none at all.
“This year the peak will occur on May 6 about 9 AM EDT with meteor rates of about 30 meteors per hour near peak. Best viewing is just before dawn on May 6,” NASA scientists say.
“Eta Aquarids zoom around the Solar System at speeds near 148,000 miles per hour (well over 238,000 kilometers per our),” they further detail.
The peak of the meteor shower will best be visible from the southern hemisphere. However, folks in the northern hemisphere will too get to witness a few bright streaks of light moving through the sky.
Halley's Comet itself will not be visible. This celestial body is viewable only every 76 years or so, and having made its last appearance in 1986, it will not show its face again until mid-2061.
Another meteor shower happened just weeks ago
Towards the end of April, our planet traversed a trail of debris originating from one other celestial body, Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, and the annual Lyrid meteor shower happened.
The shower peaked between midnight on April 22 and sunrise on April 23, and birthed about 15 to 20 meteors per hour. It was visible both from the northern and the southern hemisphere.
The annual Lyrid meteor shower owes its name to the fact that the meteors seem to be coming from the constellation Lyra. In turn, Eta Aquarids appear to be emerging from the constellation Aquarius.