The debris from Halley’s Comet will hit the Earth this weekend in a shower of meteors, but the full moon may make for a less impressive show this year.
The Eta Aquarids meteor shower is one of the best meteor showers of the year, and it will be peaking in Jacksonville, Florida on the night of Friday, May 5, and into the early morning hours on Saturday. This shower is created by debris from Halley’s Comet, and it is expected to produce up to 10-20 meteors per hour at its peak.
This year, the full Flower Moon will outshine many of the meteors. However, the Eta Aquarids are a relatively fast-moving shower, so you should still be able to see a good number of them in the sky even with the moonlight.
The best time to view the Eta Aquarids is in the early morning hours after 2 a.m. The moon is not setting until 7:06 am Saturday but it will be lower on the western horizon during the predawn hours.
To get the best view of the Eta Aquarids, find a dark location away from city lights. Lie down on your back and look up at the sky. The meteors will appear to radiate from a point in the constellation Aquarius, which is located in the southern sky. However, you can see meteors from all over the sky.
If you’re looking for a more comfortable viewing experience, you can set up a lawn chair or a sleeping bag in your backyard. You can also bring a blanket or a tarp to lie on. And don’t forget to bring a pair of binoculars or a telescope. These can help you to see the meteors more clearly.
The Eta Aquarids are a great way to see some of the beauty of the night sky. So if you’re in Jacksonville on May 5-6, 2023, be sure to get outside and enjoy the show.
Here are some additional tips for viewing the Eta Aquarids:
- The meteor shower will be visible all night long, but the best time to view it is in the early morning hours after the moon has set.
- Find a dark location away from city lights. The brighter the sky, the fewer meteors you’ll see.
- Lie down on your back and look up at the sky. The meteors will appear to radiate from a point in the constellation Aquarius, which is located in the southern sky. However, you can see meteors from all over the sky.
- Bring a pair of binoculars or a telescope. These can help you to see the meteors more clearly.
- Be patient. The meteor shower is unpredictable, so you may not see a lot of meteors right away. But if you stay out for a while, you’re sure to see some amazing sights.