How and When to Watch the Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower From Halley’s Comet
The 2022 Eta Aquarids meteor shower runs from April 19 to May 28 and is visible all over the United States.
The meteor shower peaks on May 4, 5, and 6 before dawn and is best seen in areas free of artificial light.
Halley’s comet is the parent of this magnificent meteor shower.
Grab your sleeping bags and lawn chair because for the next two days constellation lovers will have the opportunity to see a major celestial event. Usually, when spring rolls around we’re excited to see the Lyrid meteor shower, which peaks in April. But tonight, May 5, and May 6 mark the perfect time to watch the Eta Aquarids meteor shower all across the United States.
The celestial event is named after the Aquarius constellation and began April 19 and will end on May 28, 2022. It moves at 44 miles per second (148,000 miles per hour) in Earth’s atmosphere, according to NASA. Here’s everything you need to know about seeing the meteors for yourself.
When to watch the Eta Aquarids meteor shower
During the morning of May 4, 5, and 6 before dawn, you’ll likely get the best view of the meteor shower because the peak of the shower stretches over several days. The moon is in a waxing crescent (the first slim glance of a new moon) during these mornings, so little moon visibility in the sky will yield great meteor shower viewing conditions in the predawn hours.
The predicted peak time for the meteor shower is May 5 at 4 am UTC, according to The American Meteor Society. This will be about 12 am EST, but you can calculate your local time on Earth Sky’s website.
In the southern half of the United States, residents may see 10 to 20 meteors per hour in the evening when the moon doesn’t shine. The farther south you go toward the Southern Hemisphere, you’ll likely see two or three times the amount, according to Earth Sky. Because the meteor shower rides low in the sky in the Northern Hemisphere, this is typically the best meteor shower of the year for the area.
How to watch the Eta Aquarids meteor shower
You won’t need any special equipment to watch the meteor shower, but it’s always best to find a dark, open sky away from any artificial light that may interfere with seeing the meteors. Lie flat on your back with your feet facing east and look up for the best view of the sky. You’ll begin to see meteors after your eyes adjust in about 30 minutes. You’ll likely see the meteors as glowing, incandescent bits of debris that last for several seconds to a minute, according to NASA.
What does this meteor shower have to do with Halley’s Comet?
Halley’s Comet is the parent comet of the Eta Aquarids meteor shower. Halley’s comet runs around the sun in the opposite direction from Earth and other planets (called orbiting in retrograde). Because of this, Earth passes by Halley’s Comet twice, once in early May causing the Eta Aquarids meteor shower. We will pass by it again in late October, causing the Orionid meteor shower, according to Earth Sky.
The comet takes about 76 years to orbit the sun, so we don’t typically have the opportunity to get close to it during its orbit and experience a meteor shower. It was most recently seen in 1985/86 and will not return again until 2061,
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