Tamjid rahman

How to see the Eta Aquarid shower?

Here's how to see the Eta Aquariid Meteor Shower at its peak. The Eta Aquariid meteor shower gives the night sky one of its quieter but more elegant performances each spring. The shower is expected to reach its peak this year in the early morning hours of May 6, and if people are willing to get up early or stay up late, they can see a show of cosmic fire dancing across the sky. This was more than just another meteor shower for Mia Chen, a college sophomore in Flagstaff, Arizona, who is studying astrophysics. She had planned for it throughout the semester, obsessing over moon phases and weather forecasts and even persuading her art major roommate Lena to join her. With a coffee thermos in her backpack, Mia explained, "The Eta Aquariids are special." They are Halley's Comet fragments. That's like watching history unfold in the heavens." Lena stuffed sketchbooks into her tote bag and shrugged. "I just want to feel good. And possibly to depict falling stars. The Eta Aquariids are less well-known and subtle than the famous Perseids or Geminids, but they are just as stunning. The Northern Hemisphere typically sees between 20 and 40 meteors per hour at their peak, while the Southern Hemisphere sees even more as the radiant, or the point in the sky from which the meteors appear to emerge, rises higher. The moon will be a small crescent this year, its light barely touching the sky. The arrangement is ideal for viewing. After driving past the last ring of streetlights, Mia and Lena left the campus and entered the tranquil Coconino National Forest. A wide expanse of open meadow with a great view to the south had been selected as a light-free location for their exploration. They were covered in blankets, lying on a tarp, and staring into space at 3:30 in the morning. The Eta Aquariids' radiant is located in Aquarius, close to Eta Aquaria, the constellation's brightest star, hence the name. But you don’t need to locate the radiant to enjoy the shower. In fact, meteors often blaze long trails far from their origin point, making a full-sky watch worthwhile.