The Eta Aquariid Meteor Shower is an annual celestial event that happens from late April to mid-May, peaking around May 5th and 6th. It arises from Earth passing through the particles left by Comet Halley, with the meteors appearing to stem from the constellation Aquarius. This shower is known for its swift and brilliant meteors, offering about 40 meteors per hour under optimal conditions in the Southern Hemisphere. Credit: SciTechDaily.comWhat are some skywatching highlights in May 2024? Mars and Saturn tussle with the Moon, Mercury makes a brief a.m. appearance, East Coasters can see red giant star Antares emerge from behind the Moon, and the eta Aquariid meteors peak on May 6th. What to look for: Morning Meteors and May PlanetsSee Mars, Saturn, and Mercury in the May early morning sky. Antares slips behind the Moon for East Coast U.S. skywatchers. And the eta Aquariid meteors peak May 6th. Video Transcript: Whats Up for May? The Moon socializes with Saturn two times this month, the Scorpions “heart” briefly goes missing, and meteors in the morning, thanks to Comet Halley.On May 3rd, in the hour or so before dawn, youll find the crescent Moon increasing with Saturn in morning golden. The pair are tracked by the Red Planet, Mars, which rises about 45 minutes after Saturn. They form a good lineup in the east for early risers to enjoy. On the following early morning, the Moon shows a slimmer crescent and has actually moved in between Saturn and Mars. The 2 planets are continuing to widen their separation following a close conjunction in early April, where they appeared incredibly close in the sky.Sky chart revealing the Moon appearing very close to Saturn in the morning sky on May 31. Credit: NASA/JPL-CaltechAnd if you have a clear view to the horizon, you might simply see Mercury rising in the hour before the Sun. Its shining pretty vibrantly, however its likewise low in the sky and completing with dawn twilight, so it makes for a great obstacle. Those in the Southern Hemisphere will have an easier time spotting Mercury, as it increases an excellent bit greater in the sky for you.On May 23rd, the complete Moon will appear rather close to the intense red star Antares, in Scorpius, as the set increase. For those on the East Coast of the U.S.– south of Delaware and down through the whole state of Florida– youll actually observe the Moon pass in front of Antares– an occasion called an occultation. Over a number of hours as the set rise into the night sky, the Moon will move slightly in its orbit, very first obscuring and then revealing Antares. On May 31st, planet Saturn increases in the wee hours of the morning with the crescent Moon in tow. Youll discover the set towards the southeast if youre up early on the last day of May. Theyll be close enough to appear in the same field of view if observing through binoculars.Sky chart revealing the radiant, or evident point of origin, of the eta Aquariid meteor shower 2 hours before daybreak on May 6. While all of the meteors appear to radiate from this area, meteors can appear anywhere on the sky. Credit: NASA/JPL-CaltechMeteor ShowersMay brings one of 2 yearly meteor showers that are credited to Halleys comet. The eta Aquariid meteors are seen each year in May, whereas the Orionid meteors streak through our skies in October. This scenario happens because Earth crosses through Comet Halleys orbit twice every year, in May and October. Along Halleys course is a meteor stream– lots of little grains of rock and dust abandoned by the comet, and these strike our environment and burn up as meteors.The shower peaks overnight on May 5th and into the early morning of the 6th. You can see meteors from this shower the whole week centered around the peak night, however. The location on the sky where the meteors appear to originate, the glowing, is in the constellation Aquarius, so youll have a possibility to see meteors as long as the radiant is above the horizon, with more meteors the higher that point increases in the sky. This time of year, Aquarius increases after midnight, so the time to see this shower is in the couple of hours before dawn.This is an excellent shower for observers in the Southern Hemisphere. The glowing rises a good bit higher in the sky before morning golden, since in May, which is autumn there, nights are longer. Those in ideal dark sky conditions can see 40 meteors per hour. For Northern Hemisphere observers, its less than half that amount– more like 10 to 20 meteors per hour.Its still an above-average shower, though, especially with the peak this year being near a brand-new moon, producing a darker sky. And with the warmer temperature levels that feature spring north of the equator, it can be a deserving shower to go out and enjoy.As always, to see the most meteors, find yourself a safe, dark area away from brilliant lights and provide your eyes a few minutes to adapt to the dark.Lie down with your feet pointed more or less toward the east, and look straight overhead. Bring a warm beverage and a good friend or 2, and turn a morning into a “meteor early morning,” as you search the skies for the eta Aquariid meteors.Here are the phases of the Moon for May.Sky chart revealing the Moon with Saturn and Mars before daybreak on May 3. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
What to look for: Morning Meteors and May PlanetsSee Mars, Saturn, and Mercury in the May morning sky. While all of the meteors appear to radiate from this area, meteors can appear anywhere on the sky. The eta Aquariid meteors are seen each year in May, whereas the Orionid meteors streak through our skies in October. The location on the sky where the meteors appear to stem, the glowing, is in the constellation Aquarius, so youll have an opportunity to see meteors as long as the glowing is above the horizon, with more meteors the higher that point rises in the sky. Bring a warm drink and a buddy or 2, and turn an early morning into a “meteor morning,” as you search the skies for the eta Aquariid meteors.Here are the phases of the Moon for May.Sky chart showing the Moon with Saturn and Mars before dawn on May 3.
