Have you ever wished upon a shooting star while gazing up at the night sky? Don’t worry if you have missed it. The Eta Aquarids meteor shower is coming to light up your nights this May! So be ready to experience these spectacular celestial fireworks and let’s explore where and when you can catch them!
But first, let’s take a step back before diving into the secrets of the Eta Aquarids. Do you recall those magnificent objects shown in movies that have flowing tails? Aren’t they just fascinating? They are nothing but comets! Comets are dirty snowballs traveling across space. They are important to this story as they leave a trail of dust and debris along their path. These tiny particles collide with our atmosphere as Earth swings through this debris field in its orbit, producing the luminous and dazzling light streaks known as meteors. That’s what a meteor shower is, a cosmic light display caused by Earth’s passing in the dusty trail of a comet
What Is the Eta Aquarids Meteor shower?
Well who doesn’t know about the cosmic celebrity in the world of astronomy? The ‘Halley’s Comet’! This not so frequent visitor is well known for its extended, eccentric orbit of 0.97 around the sun. The duration of its orbit around our star, the sun, is roughly 75-76 years and it is categorized as a short period comet. Even though, currently, the comet itself is too far away from Earth to be seen, it has left behind a trail of dust and ice particles. This is where things become exciting!
Like all other planets, Earth orbits the Sun according to a predefined route of its own. Every year the orbit of our Earth crosses this debris track of Halley’s comet in the springtime of May. These small chunks of dust and ice particles burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere, creating a stunning light show for the stargazers to enjoy, this is the Eta Aquarids meteor shower shortly known as Eta Aquarids.
When Can You See the Eta Aquarids Meteor shower?
Each year, the Eta Aquarids reach their climax around May 6th, although in reality, the activity lasts from late April to mid-May. This indicates that there is a good chance you may see some meteors even before its peak. The best mornings to watch Eta Aquarids meteor showers are May 5 and May 6, 2024 in the hours before dawn. Since the radiant of Eta Aquarids or the spot in the sky where the meteors appear to be coming from, is at its highest, the greatest viewing usually happens in the southern hemisphere after midnight local time.
How Many Meteors Can You Expect?
The Eta Aquarids meteor shower may not be the most intense, but it is reliable, offering viewers the chance to witness between 30 to 60 meteors per hour when it is at its peak. What makes Eta Aquarids meteor showers most exciting is their astounding speed of 60 miles per hour with which these meteors shoot through the atmosphere. Imagine riding on one of these meteors at such a thrilling speed (Although that isn’t possible, sadly) !
Where is the Best Place to See the Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower?
The Eta Aquarids are a global phenomena as they can be seen in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Since the radiant of the Eta Aquarids found in the constellation of Aquarius is located higher in the sky in the Southern Hemisphere than it is in the Northern Hemisphere, the Southern Hemisphere is the most favorable. The best time to catch these meteor showers is around 2 to 3 am. To locate the constellation of Aquarius in the night sky, you can use the Stellarium app!
If you want to get the most out of your Eta Aquarids meteor shower watching experience, you should go for locations with a dark sky that are far away from pollution and city lights. Choosing the ideal spot is essential, whether it’s a park, beach, or your garden with a clear view of the sky.
Excited to see the Eta Aquarids Meteor shower amidst serene beauty under a pitch dark sky?
If YES, then join us with your friends and family for the best stargazing experience under the dark magnificent skies of Bhandardara with Stargazing Mumbai on 4th of May. This location itself is breathtaking. This event has been specially organized for the Eta-Aquarids meteor shower, and you will be able to spot nearly 30-60 meteors per hour during this night! This location also provides the scenic beauty of the Sahyadri range and offers the clearest and darkest sky for stargazing near Mumbai.
So don’t wait! Just mark your calendars, enroll for our event this May and enjoy stargazing.
Pro Tips for Watching the Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower:
-
Allow your eyes some time to become used to the darkness
Your eyes may need up to thirty minutes to adjust completely to the night sky. During this time, stay away from bright lights and cell phones as they will interfere with your night vision. Red light flashlights are an excellent tool for maintaining night vision when you’re out and navigating at night.
-
Take your time and wait patiently!
There will be intervals between the Eta Aquarids meteor sightings because meteors don’t always appear. Savor the calm of the night sky and the companionship of other fellow stargazers.
-
And lastly, settle in and get comfy!
Bring a blanket, since you will be staring up for some time. In order to stay nourished for the celestial spectacle, bring some food and beverages with you.
Are you feeling motivated to capture some of the magic of the Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower using your camera? If YES, then you should definitely consider reading this.
Tips For Photographing a Meteor Shower:
-
Grab a wide-angle lens for your DSLR camera
Ideally full frame lenses with a maximum aperture of f/2.8 or smaller, which fall within the 14mm and 35mm range are perfect. By doing this, you will be able to photograph a wider field of view and maximize your chances to capture a meteor streak of the Eta Aquarids meteor shower!
Want to know why you should choose a lens with a focal ratio of f/2.8 or smaller? Click here to know more.
-
Get your camera under control
Put your camera in manual mode and fine-tune the settings to get long exposures. Trying out various shutter speeds. Ideally, 15–30 seconds range is great because it is possible to capture more light and intricate details with longer exposures as the Eta Aquarids meteor shower is not very intense.
-
Set the ISO to around 1600-3200 for light sensitivity
Find the sweet spot for photographing Eta Aquarids meteors while reducing noise, as higher ISO can introduce noise.
-
Focus on infinity when using manual focus on your lens
A precise spot won’t work since meteors can arrive anywhere. Lastly, the most important thing is to keep your camera steady during long exposures. Use a robust tripod. Photos taken with even the smallest of movements will be fuzzy.
Liked reading this? You might also like:
