Sri Lankans will be able to witness one of the greatest annual meteor showers, the ETA Aquarids, early tomorrow morning (06 May).
According to Astrophysicist Gihan Weerasekara, the meteor showers will be visible between 4.00 am to 05.00 am.
He further said that up to 50 meteors per hour could be witnessed during this period.
-What is the ETA Aquarids meteor shower?
The debris that makes the ETA Aquarids meteors come from Halley’s Comet, which can only be seen from Earth once every roughly 76 years.
When it returns to the inner solar system, it leaves behind the rocky dust that eventually creates the ETA Aquarids meteor shower each May.
The Aquardis meteors are known not for appearing like flashing balls of fire, but rather for leaving long glowing trails in their wake as they shoot across the sky.
-When is the ETA Aquarids meteor shower peaking?
The Aquarids, which first became active April 19, are due to peak between May 5 and May 6 as Earth passes through the densest part of Halley’s cosmic debris, according to the American Meteor Society.
While the meteors won’t be as bright or dazzling after the peak, stargazers should still be able to catch some of the light show until about May 28.
-What time can I see the Aquarids meteors?
Like all meteor showers, the Aquarids are best viewed during the dark hours between midnight and dawn.
You don’t need any special equipment or a lot of skills to view a meteor shower. (Newswire/ USA Today)