Star Gazers

I love looking up at the stars especially when camping. Tonight and until Tuesday May 5 there will be.

Here's a snapshot of what it is:

• The Eta Aquariid meteor shower was caused by debris left by Halley's Comet
• It is best viewed in the southern hemisphere but is visible from most of the Earth
• Astronomers say at its peak on Tuesday there will be 40 shooting stars per hour

The next meteor shower to light up the sky will be the Eta Aquariids and it will see dozens of shooting stars per hour this weekend - ending at the peak on Tuesday.  

Eta Aquariids are created from the debris left behind by Halley's Comet and happen every year from the middle of April until the end of May.

They will be visible over the weekend where a dozen meteorites will be visible per hour but on Tuesday night this will go up to 40 or more per hour during the peak.

Astronomers say to watch the shower you should 'get a comfy chair' and be prepared to sit outside for hours - but you won't need binoculars or a telescope. 

The Eta Aquariids are named after the constellation Aquarius as they fall from that point in the sky and specifically the star Eta Aquarii.

They are the flashes of dust grains burning in the atmosphere left behind as the Earth passes the path of a comet.

That's the reason they appear on certain dates and return annually - as these comets are on an orbit and leave debris in certain parts of space. 

Renowned for their speed the meteors will be entering the earth's atmosphere and will leave a trail of glowing debris following them. 

They're best viewed in Australia because they rise to about 50 degrees in the sky, which is the best angle to view them from.

The Earth experiences a meteor shower when the Earth's orbit coincides with the comet's. Pictured is the Eta Aquarids Meteor shower taken over three nights over Devils Tower in Wyoming

There is a video on the link 

There are another nine meteor showers happening throughout 2020 including the Perseids

• Delta Aquariids: July 29-30 2020 - 20 per hour - Steady stream over days
• Alpha Capricornids: July 29-30 2020 - 5 per hour - Yellow slow fireballs
• Perseids: August 12-13 - 100 per hour - Bright, fast meteors with trains
• Draconids: October 8-9 - 10 per hour - From comet Giacobini-Zimmer
• Orionids: October 21-22 - 25 per hour - Fast with fine trains
• Taurids: October 9-10 (Southern), November 10-11 (Northern) - 10 per hour 
• Leonids: November 17-18 - 15 per hour - Fast and bright
• Geminids: December 14-15 - 100+ per hour - Bright and plentiful
• Ursids: December 21-22 - <10 -="" hour="" li="" nbsp="" per="" shower="" sparse="">