Meteors – commonly known as shooting stars – can be seen on any night of the year. But some nights are better than others.
Every time it swings through the inner Solar System, the comet sheds dust and gas. This dust has slowly spread through space, shrouding the comet's orbit in a broad swathe of debris. The reason is that in northern locations, the Eta Aquariid radiant does not rise until it is already morning twilight. As a result, all but the brightest meteors get lost in the rising daylight.
The first hour after radiant rise will likely not produce many meteors. It is still worth staring skyward though, as the few meteors you do see will be crashing into the atmosphere at a very shallow angle, allowing them to streak from horizon to horizon. These are known as"earthgrazing" meteors.As the radiant climbs higher, so, too, will the number of meteors you observe. At their peak , in the hour or two before dawn, the Eta Aquariids could easily produce 20 to 30 meteors per hour.
Eastern sky featuring the constellation Aquarius from Melbourne on May 6 at 2:30am and 5:30am . The Eta Aquariids are always a fabulous autumn treat for observers in Australia, but this year promises to be extra special. First, the skies will be dark thanks to a new Moon, making meteors easier to spot.
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