Mumbai, May 4: The Eta Aquariid meteor shower will enthral skywatchers this weekend. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) took to X today, May 4, and said that the Eta Aquariid meteor shower will peak in the early hours of Sunday, May 5. During this rare celestial event, the meteor shower will put up a spectacular show in the sky with meteor rates up to one per minute.

According to NASA, the best time to witness the Eta Aquariid meteor shower will be from the night of Saturday, May 4, until the morning of Sunday, May 5. However, the US Space Agency also said additional viewing opportunities are available until Monday, May 6. Notably, meteors will be seen across the sky as Earth passes through the dusty debris left in space by Halley's Comet. Celestial Events in May 2024: Mark Your Dates for Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower, New Moon and Full Moon Visibility This Month.

How Does Eta Aquariid Meteor Shower Get Its Name?

The streaks of light will be visible when the earth runs into the debris. It must be noted that the next eta Aquariids outburst is about 20 years from today. The Eta Aquariid meteor shower gets its name due to its origin point in the sky, which is called the radiant. According to a report in Reuters, the debris that burns up in the atmosphere is in the constellation Aquarius, also known as the "water bearer", and is close to Eta Aquarii. Eta Aquarii is one of the constellations's brightest stars and one of the four stars that comprises the top of its "water jar".

Eta Aquariid meteors are superfast and travel at approximately 148,000 miles per hour (238,000 kilometres per hour) while entering the Earth's atmosphere. The space agency says that the fast-moving meteors can actually create glowing "trains" that can last seconds to minutes. Polar Stratospheric Clouds in Norway: Watch Videos of the Rare Phenomenon of Rainbow Clouds Lighting Up the Sky.

When and Where Will Eta Aquariid Meteor Shower Be Visible?

NASA said that the Eta Aquariid meteor shower will be best visible from the night of May 4 to the morning of May 5. The best time to view the meteor shower is from 4 am until dawn (US time). The American Meteor Society said that meteors can be seen during pre-dawn hours in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. During peak time, 30 meteors can be witnessed in each hour.

While the Eta Aquariid meteor shower will be spectacular in the sky, the meteors will not be visible in India.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 04, 2024 06:10 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).