Eta Aquarid

Everything you need to know: Eta Aquarid meteor shower

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EarthSky.org - 5/1/13, Bruce McClure

 

Radiant point of Eta Aquarid meteor shower.  It's in the constellation Aquarius, in the southeast before dawn on May mornings.

 

Radiant point of Eta Aquarid meteor shower. It’s in the constellation Aquarius, in the southeast before dawn on May mornings, as seen from mid-northern latitude

 

The Lyrid meteor shower – which peaked before dawn April 22, 2013 – hasn’t been great for skywatchers in Earth’s Southern Hemisphere. The reason is that the radiant point, or point in the sky from which the meteors appear to radiate, is far to the north on the sky’s dome. Meanwhile, our friends in the Southern Hemisphere are asking which meteor showers are worth watching in their part of the world. We’re pleased to inform southern (and northern) skywatchers that one meteor shower in particular – the Eta Aquarid shower – is coming up in early May, and it’s a fine one to view from both northerly and southerly latitudes. No matter where you live, you can watch the Eta Aquarids in early May. Plus the moon is not a problem for this shower this year!

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