How to watch the Eta Aquariids meteor shower in the UK
Skygazers who are prepared to stay up through the night will be treated to a display of shooting stars later this weekend, with the Eta Aquariid meteor shower expected to peak in the early hours of Monday.
The Eta Aquariid is one of two meteor showers created by debris from Comet Halley, and always happens at this time of year. The other is the Orionid meteor shower, which is visible in October.
As with most meteor showers, Eta Aquariid gets its name from the constellation in the night sky that it appears to radiate from, the Aquarius constellation. But instead of being called the Aquariid meteor shower, the name comes from one of the stars from this constellation, Eta Aquarii.
When is the Eta Aquariid meteor shower in 2024?
The meteor shower is active between 19 April and 28 May, but will peak - with up to 50 meteors per hour - between midnight and dawn on Monday (6 May).
How can I see the Eta Aquariid meteor shower?
Royal Museums Greenwich, which runs the Royal Observatory, advises: “Hunting for meteors, like the rest of astronomy, is a waiting game, so it's best to bring a comfy chair to sit on and to wrap up warm as you could be outside for a while.
“They can be seen with the naked eye so there's no need for binoculars or a telescope."
People should also allow up to 30 minutes for their eyes to adjust to the lack of light.
Where is best to watch the Eta Aquariid meteor shower?
While the meteors will be visible with the naked eye, the key advice for stargazers is to find a dark area of sky and situate themselves away from street lights and other sources of light pollution.
Meanwhile, Dhara Patel, an astronomer formerly of Royal Observatory Greenwich, previously advised: “It’s best to head away from the city to a rural location where there are few buildings and trees to obscure your view of the south-eastern horizon in particular.
“Heading to higher altitudes may also make viewings easier."
