One of the Most Visible Meteor Showers of 2019 Is Happening This Weekend. Here Is How to Watch It

The peak of the Eta Aquariid meteor shower will coincide with a new moon this weekend, meaning the conditions will be ideal to view the annual flurry of burning space debris. Here is what you need to know to catch a glimpse.
What is a meteor shower?
A meteor shower occurs when the Earth passes through a cloud of space debris, often left behind by a comet. When the debris vaporizes in the Earth’s atmosphere, it results in streaks of light across the sky. From earth’s perspective, a meteor shower will always appear to originate from a specific point in the sky, known as the radiant, and showers are named after the constellations their radiant is closest to.

Meteor showers will typically last for several weeks, with a peak in frequency that lasts a couple of days. The Perseid meteor shower that occurs every August is the most well-known and popular, as it produces the greatest number of meteors and is often the brightest, according to NASA. However, there are plenty of other annual meteor showers throughout the year that can be just as much of a spectacle, if conditions are just right.
What is the Eta Aquariid meteor shower?
The Eta Aquariid shower occurs every year between April and May, and typically peaks within the first week of the latter month. Its radiant is located near the constellation aquarius, which gives it the name Eta Aquariids. While not the most well-known meteor shower, the Eta Aquariids is made up of debris left behind by Halley’s comet, a ...

Source: TIME: Science - May 3, 2019 Category: Science Authors: Wilder Davies Tags: Uncategorized meteor onetime space Source Type: news