A bright moon may dim the Eta Aquarid meteor shower made up of Halley's comet debris
Yahoo • • general
Key Points:
- The Eta Aquarid meteor shower, caused by debris from Halley's comet, will peak Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, but visibility will be reduced due to a bright, 84% full waning gibbous moon.
- Southern Hemisphere viewers typically see about 50 meteors per hour during the peak, but this year’s moonlight may cut that number in half; Northern Hemisphere observers can expect fewer than 10 meteors per hour.
- The best viewing time is just before dawn, away from city lights and tall buildings, looking east near the constellation Aquarius and the bright star Eta Aquarii.
- Observers are advised to bring blankets or lawn chairs, avoid looking at phone screens to allow eyes to adjust to darkness, and try to find a location that blocks the moon’s brightness for optimal viewing.
- Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through debris trails left by comets or asteroids, with the Eta Aquarids specifically linked to Halley's comet, which returns to Earth’s vicinity roughly every 76 years, next arriving in 2061.
