2024-05-02 03:26:30
At the beginning of May, the Eta Aquariids’ stream of shooting stars is approaching its peak. When and where you can best see the meteors.
Frankfurt – Comet 1P/Halley is probably the best known Comet in our Solar system. What many people don’t know, however, is that it is responsible for two streams of shooting stars. In October it produces the Orionid meteors, and in May it is the Eta Aquariid shooting stars that can be seen in the sky thanks to Halley’s Comet.
Shooting stars in May 2024: Eta Aquariids can be seen early in the morning
It always “rains” then Shooting stars, when the Earth flies through a trail of dust left in space by the comet. This happens at the same time every year – which is why the meteor showers can be observed at the same time every year. The Eta Aquariid shooting star stream has been active since April 19th and can be loud International Meteor Organization (IMO) be observed until April 28th.
The Eta Aquariid shooting stars appear to originate near the inconspicuous star Eta Aquarii in the constellation Aquarius. The shooting star stream gets its name from this so-called radiant. Because the meteors appear to emanate from the radiant, the meteor shower is best viewed when the radiant is high in the sky. If it is still below the horizon, only a few shooting stars should be visible.
Time for wishes: shooting stars flit across the night sky
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Meteors whiz across the sky: Eta Aquariids reach their maximum on the 5th/6th. May
The Eta Aquariid meteor shower will reach its maximum in 2024 on the night of May 5th to 6th. Since the radiant only rises late at night in Central Europe, there is only about an hour in which you can reasonably observe shooting stars: around 3 a.m., before dawn. At least he does it Mond Don’t put a damper on your enjoyment. During the previous shooting star stream, the Lyrids in April, the light from the almost-full moon the observation.
In 2024, experts expect the Eta Aquariids to produce around 40 to 50 shooting stars per hour. However, this value, the so-called “zenithal hourly rate”, assumes perfect observation conditions: a very dark sky, the best all-round view of the firmament and a radiant that is high in the sky. These conditions do not exist for the Eta aquariids, at least in Central Europe. Further south, however, the meteor shower is considered the best shooting star shower of the year.
Shooting stars in the night sky over Tenerife. (Archive image) © imago/Leemage
Eta Aquariid shooting stars could experience eruption in 2024
Although the shooting star maximum of the Eta Aquariids is usually expected to be canceled this year, a surprise is also possible. One Study from 2020 predicts a possible Eta Aquariid eruption in 2024. The IMO experts recommend that observers observe the period around the maximum (May 4th to 6th). It is also possible that there will be an increase in activity between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. (CEST) on May 3rd. However, you won’t be able to observe this in Central Europe because it will already be light by then. (tab)
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