Our universe may be chock-full of cosmic wonders, but only a fraction of astronomical phenomena can be observed with the naked eye. He is also responsible for meteor showers, which are natural fireworks that shine brightly in the night sky.
The last meteor shower that can be observed is the Eta Aquarids, which has been active since April 19th and is expected to continue until May 28th. The meteor shower will reach its peak on May 4th and 5th, from Saturday night to Sunday morning.
The Eta Aquari meteor shower is known for the high-velocity fireballs that occur when Earth passes through the debris left behind by Halley's Comet.
Also spelled Eta Aquariid, this shower is most easily seen in the tropical south. However, lower meteors may be visible in the Northern Hemisphere near sunrise. With the moon just looming in the sky, viewers might witness a powerful show this year.
Where do meteor showers come from?
While it's possible to see meteors on any night, you're most likely to see them during a rain shower. Meteor showers are caused by the Earth passing through debris trailing comets and asteroids as they orbit the sun. The pieces, some as small as a grain of sand, leave behind a trail of glowing light as they burn up in Earth's atmosphere.
Meteor showers occur around the same time every year and can last from a few days to a few weeks. But when each shower reaches its peak, which happens when Earth reaches the densest part of the universe's debris, there is only a small window. Peak is the best time to look for showers. From our vantage point on Earth, meteors appear to come from the same point in the sky.
For example, the Perseid meteor shower peaks in the constellation Perseus in mid-August. The Geminid meteor shower occurs every December and radiates out from the constellation Gemini.
Subscribe to the Times' Space and Astronomy Calendar and get reminders about meteor showers throughout the year.
How to see meteor showers
Michelle Nichols, director of public observations at Chicago's Adler Planetarium, recommends refraining from using telescopes or binoculars when viewing meteor showers.
“All you need is an eye, and ideally a dark sky,” she said.
That's because meteors can shoot out across large areas of the sky, so viewing equipment can limit your field of view.
Some rain showers can be strong enough to produce up to 100 streaks per hour, according to the American Meteor Society, but you may not see that many.
“Most of us live under light-polluted skies,” Nichols said. “You may think you're under dark skies, but in reality, there can be bright lights nearby, even in small towns.”
Planetariums, local astronomy clubs, and even maps like this one can help you find where to escape from excess light. The best conditions for viewing meteor showers are between midnight and sunrise, with clear skies without moon or cloud cover. (Moonlight affects visibility in the same way as light pollution, washing out darker light sources in the sky.) Give your eyes at least 30 minutes to get used to seeing in the dark.
Nichols recommends layering, even in the summer. “She's going to be sitting there watching for a while,” she said. “It's going to be cold even in August.”
Bring some cocoa or tea to keep you warmer. Then sit back, watch the sky, and enjoy the show.