One of the best meteor showers of 2024 can be seen in Tampa Bay this weekend
This weekend will bring the peak of one of the best meteor showers of 2024, according to astronomers.
Known as the Eta Aquariids, the meteor shower runs April 15-May 27 and peaks in the predawn hours of Saturday and Sunday, May 4-5. It is an offshoot of the famous Halley’s Comet and can produce a maximum of 50 shooting stars per hour, according to the American Meteor Society, though 10-20 per hour is more likely in Tampa Bay skies.
“This is a decent meteor shower, but the Southern hemisphere is favored because the radiant of the shower will be higher in the sky,” said Craig Joseph, a professor of astronomy at St. Petersburg College and the planetarium director there. “We are likely to see only 10-20 meteors per hour at our latitude.”
The meteor shower is near the star Eta Aquarii in the constellation Aquarius. It is caused by a debris stream deposited in the inner solar system by Halley’s comet. Though it has already begun, the night sky being free from strong moonlight this week makes it an ideal time of the month to go outside and look up after dark.
Sky watchers advise that observers should rise before the sun and look east. It is best seen in a dark, moonless sky, which would be about 40 minutes before sunrise.
Some tips from the American Meteor Society for watching a meteor shower include:
Get as far away from urban light pollution as possible.
Find a location with a clear, unobstructed view of the night sky.
Be patient and watch for at least half an hour, preferably on a reclining chair or ground pad.
Don’t use a telescope or binoculars because they greatly reduce your chance of seeing shooting stars.
Avoid looking at your cellphone or any other white light. It will destroy your night vision. Use red light only.
