After the Lyrids, it’s the turn of the Eta Aquarid shooting stars to cross the vault of heaven. This Thursday evening, at nightfall, you can observe about thirty meteors per hour† So, advice to astronomy enthusiasts, don’t forget to look at the sky!
Every year, in the spring, the meteoritic swarm of the Eta Aquarids crosses our starry sky. This year, this wonderful phenomenon will take place from April 19 to May 28. Something to enjoy for long evenings. In addition, this shower of shooting stars will be at its peak on the night of Thursday, May 5 to Friday, May 6, 2022. The luckiest of us will be able to observe up to 30 meteors per hour if you look to the right way.
How to observe Eta Aquarids?
You don’t have to go outside after sunset. Hoping to see as many shooting stars as possible will require patience as the peak is expected around 3am. To maximize your chances, go to a quiet place, free and away from light pollution (car headlights, street lights, etc.). Nights are often cold at this time of year, so cover yourself from head to toe to avoid the cold.
Then all that remains is for us to look in the right direction, that is, to the constellation Aquarius and more precisely to the star Eta Aquarii. And if you find it difficult, it’s easier to find your way thanks to mobile applications, such as SkySafari or Google Sky.
If you can’t attend this celestial spectacle, know that the Eta Aquarids last until May 28. And so as not to miss anything this year, now is the time to observe the rain of shooting stars in 2022†