Meteors – generally referred to as capturing stars – might be seen on any evening of the yr. However some nights are higher than others.
As Earth strikes across the Solar, we encounter streams of mud and particles from comets and asteroids. That particles provides delivery to “meteor showers” – occasions when the variety of capturing stars you’re prone to see will increase dramatically.
At the moment, we’re passing via the outskirts of 1 such particles stream, left behind by Halley’s comet. It creates the Eta Aquariid meteor bathe, among the best seen from the southern hemisphere. Yearly, when Earth reaches this level in its orbit, you’ll be able to see the Eta Aquariids within the morning sky.
This yr’s show guarantees to be additional particular. The height coincides with a brand new Moon, which means skies will probably be additional darkish within the hours earlier than daybreak – excellent circumstances to observe fragments of a well-known comet rain down. There are even hints the bathe is likely to be extra “active” than typical.
Fragments of probably the most well-known comet
Halley’s comet (1P/Halley by its official identify) orbits the Solar each 76 years or so, and has spent 1000’s of years on its present path.
Each time it swings via the interior Photo voltaic System, the comet sheds mud and gasoline. This mud has slowly unfold via area, shrouding the comet’s orbit in a broad swathe of particles.
Earth runs via that particles twice per yr, giving delivery to 2 well-known meteor showers. In October, we get the Orionid meteor bathe, seen from each hemispheres and comparatively well-known.
However the higher of the 2 showers from Halley’s particles peaks in early Could – the Eta Aquariid meteor bathe. Earth begins encountering that particles in mid-April, after which spends roughly six weeks traversing the broad particles stream left behind by the mighty comet.
For a lot of that point, Earth passes via the outskirts of the stream, and the variety of meteors produced stays low. However for round per week centred on Could 6, Earth strikes via the densest a part of the stream, and the Eta Aquariids attain their peak.
How can I watch the meteor bathe?
The Eta Aquariids are literally among the best meteor showers of the yr, however are comparatively poorly identified for a easy motive – they’re finest seen from the southern hemisphere, and are very onerous to watch from areas north of the equator.
The reason being that in northern areas, the Eta Aquariid radiant (the purpose within the sky from which the meteors seem to radiate) doesn’t rise till it’s already morning twilight. Because of this, all however the brightest meteors get misplaced within the rising daylight.
Southern observers are extra lucky. For many Australian areas, the radiant – situated within the constellation Aquarius – rises at round 1:30am to 2am native time. This offers us a number of hours earlier than daybreak to watch the spectacle.
A common rule of thumb when observing meteor showers is the upper within the sky the radiant rises, the higher the show will probably be as your location on Earth is become dealing with the oncoming bathe of cometary mud.
The primary hour after radiant rise will doubtless not produce many meteors. It’s nonetheless price staring skyward although, because the few meteors you do see will probably be crashing into the environment at a really shallow angle, permitting them to streak from horizon to horizon. These are referred to as “earthgrazing” meteors.
Because the radiant climbs increased, so, too, will the variety of meteors you observe. At their peak (on the morning of Could sixth), within the hour or two earlier than daybreak, the Eta Aquariids might simply produce 20 to 30 meteors per hour.
Related charges ought to be seen for a few mornings both aspect of the utmost, making the weekend of Could 4 and 5 an ideal time to do some morning meteor recognizing.
Nevertheless, meteors do not come at an excellent charge. You possibly can wait quarter-hour and see none, then 4 could come alongside directly. So bear in mind to wrap up heat, get snug and gaze in direction of the japanese sky as you calm down to benefit from the present.
An additional particular yr?
The Eta Aquariids are at all times a superb autumn deal with for observers in Australia, however this yr guarantees to be additional particular. First, the skies will probably be darkish because of a brand new Moon, making meteors simpler to identify.
However there’s extra. Scientists modelling the behaviour of the Eta Aquariids over the previous few many years have discovered tantalising hints that this yr might see considerably enhanced charges. In reality, they counsel the 2024 Eta Aquariid meteor bathe might show to be the strongest of your complete twenty first century.
Predicting the exercise of meteor showers is de facto onerous, nevertheless. Different researchers have argued this yr would possibly simply be “business as usual”.
Even when the latter is true, that is nonetheless a superb meteor bathe to attempt to catch. With excellent circumstances, and the height falling on the morning of Could 6 (a public vacation in Queensland and the Northern Territory), it is the perfect time to plan a weekend journey to the nation – to calm down someplace darkish, and get up to spend a number of hours having fun with a show of pure fireworks earlier than watching a phenomenal autumn dawn.
What’s to not love?
Jonti Horner, Professor (Astrophysics), College of Southern Queensland and Tanya Hill, Senior Curator (Astronomy), Museums Victoria and Honorary Fellow at College of Melbourne, Museums Victoria Analysis Institute
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