May will be a particularly busy month for fans of celestial phenomena. Among the protagonists of the sky, the Eta Aquarids could not be missing, who, like every year, show up punctually for their appointment. Already dubbed among the best meteor showers of 2024, the Eta Aquarids they are preparing to put on a show in the sky. This rain of shooting starsactive from April 15th to May 17th, will soon reach its peak, promising to keep thousands of fans glued to the firmament.
What are the Eta Aquarids, the remnants of Halley’s Comet
These falling stars they take their name from their radiant, or the point from which they seem to originate, located near the star of the same name Eta Aquarii, in the constellation of Aquarius. This is not a particularly intense shower, like the Leonids or Perseids, but it can reach a rate of around 60 meteors. This number is difficult to reach in northern latitudes, due to the radiant being positioned rather low relative to the horizon.
The Eta Aquarids are actually the remains from the Halley’s Comet, one of the most famous and anticipated periodic comets, which visits the inner solar system approximately every 76 years. This comet, known since ancient times, leaves behind a path of debris that the Earth passes through every year around the second week of May, giving rise to the spectacle of the Eta Aquarids.
When and how to see the meteor shower in Italy
The period of activity of the Eta Aquarids is quite prolonged, with Zhr values (hourly activity rate with the radiant at the zenith) above 30 from 3 to 10 May. The maximum should be reached during the night between May 5th and 6theven if observations can be made before dawn begins in conditions of complete absence of moonlight from the sky.
To ensure the best conditions for observation, it is advisable to move away from the sources of light pollution of the cities and, after letting a few minutes pass to give your eyes time to get used to the darkness, turn your gaze towards the highest part of the constellation Aquarius.
They are not necessary special instruments to admire the Eta Aquarids, and in the presence of clear skies their observation will be possible with the naked eye. However, those in the Southern Hemisphere will have a better chance of spotting a consistent number of meteors, as the constellation Aquarius is higher and offers more observation opportunities.
The moment of peak it is expected on the night between 4 and 5 May and, even if a ZHR of 60 meteors is unlikely to be reached, with some precautions one could hope to identify a fairly substantial number of them.
The conditions for watching a fascinating show are all there. The Eta Aquarids 2024 they will reach their peak moment when the Moon is now close to the new moon, guaranteeing a sky dark enough to allow the greatest possible number of light trails to be identified. It could therefore be the right year to entrust to these spectacular meteors those dreams that have remained there for some time.
