Eta Aquarids will shine in the Canary Islands this year

This year promises to be an ideal one to watch Eta Aquarids, especially from places like the Canary Islands where conditions will be particularly favorable. The lack of moonlight during peak activity, May 5-6, will make this meteor shower easier to observe.

Eta Aquarids are meteor Rain which occurs annually from April 19 to May 28. Associated with the famous Halley’s Comet, these shooting stars are characterized by significant speeds, reaching 66 kilometers per second. Activity rates of 40 to 85 meteors per hour are expected, according to the National Astronomical Observatory (OAN).

He Comet Halley, known for its 76-year orbit around the Sun, is responsible for this celestial spectacle. The fragments ejected by the comet, upon contact with the Earth’s atmosphere, create the brilliant meteors that we can see during the Eta Aquarids. This phenomenon is also associated with another meteor shower, the Orionids, which occurs in October.

For mid-latitude observers, the Eta Aquarid radiant is above the horizon from four hours after midnight until dawn. This radiant, located in the star Eta of the constellation Aquarius, serves as the point of origin of this impressive celestial phenomenon.

With the arrival of the new moon on May 8th, astronomy lovers will have the perfect opportunity to enjoy the Eta Aquarids in all their splendor – an event that promises to be unforgettable.

Tips for observing it:

Stay away from light pollution: Find a dark place away from city lights.

Adapt your vision to darkness: Allow your eyes to adjust to the dark for at least 30 minutes.

Lying on your back: Lie down on a blanket or mat to widen your field of vision.

Be patient: Watching meteors requires patience as they can appear at any time.