Stargazers, this one\u2019s for you. Next month, the sky above Sydney will come alive with an extremely bright meteor shower that goes by the name of Eta Aquarid. The annual meteor shower \u2013 which is formed from debris from Halley\u2019s comet \u2013 will light up the sky above NSW in\u00a0early May. At its absolute peak, you can expect to see up to 50 fast-moving meteors per hour!\u00a0Here\u2019s everything you need to know about catching the Eta Aquarids from NSW.<\/p>\n
What is the Eta Aquarids meteor shower?<\/p>\n
The Eta Aquarid shower is a fast-moving and notoriously unpredictable celestial show that occurs when the Earth passes through the debris left behind by the better-known Halley\u2019s Comet. What makes the Eta Aquarid particularly spectacular is its speed, with the meteors travelling at around 50 kilometres per second.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Every year, the Eta Aquarids typically light up the skies between April 19 and May 28, with peak activity usually occurring in early to mid-May. This year, the\u00a0Eta Aquarids will reach their peak in Australia from May 6 to 7.<\/p>\n
How can I see the Eta Aquarids meteor shower from Sydney?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Stargazers in Sydney will have their best chance at seeing the Eta Aquarids when they peak on the night between\u00a0Wednesday, May 6\u00a0and Thursday, May 7. In the past, they’ve been particularly active from 2am to 6am.<\/p>\n
During these hours, look to the eastern skies and you should begin to see a sporadic smattering of meteors lighting up the sky. The keyword here is sporadic: meteor showers are notoriously hard to predict. You might find yourself staring at the sky for a long time before suddenly catching several sparkly spectacles in a row.<\/p>\n
The best way to see\u00a0the Eta Aquarids from Australia is to scan the northern horizon near the point of the Aquarius constellation where the meteors are set to emerge from (for help on this one, you might want to turn to a constellation map app).<\/p>\n
How to see the Eta Aquarids meteor shower in NSW?<\/p>\n
Like the Lyrid meteor shower<\/a>\u00a0in April, you don\u2019t need any fancy equipment or insider astronomical knowledge to see the Eta Aquarids. Of course, the number one thing we can hope for is clear skies, and we\u2019d also suggest finding a place far away from artificial city lights.\u00a0Remember to give your eyes enough time (around 30 minutes) to adjust to the darkness. Yes, that means no peeping at your phones.\u00a0<\/p>\n When is the next Eta Aquarids meteor shower?<\/p>\n The Eta Aquarids meteor shower happens in autumn each year, peaking from mid-April to early May.\u00a0<\/p>\n You\u2019re going to want to set those alarms, rug up and head outside. It’s not every night that you get to bear witness to a 2000-year-old celestial show.<\/p>\n Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter<\/a> for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n RECOMMENDED:
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