Are you ready for the Eta Aquariids meteor shower? Destined to be one of the best of 2024—thanks to it occurring in dark, moonless night skies, this annual meteor shower is caused by none other than Halley’s comet, the most famous ball of ice and rock in the solar system.
Although it runs from April 15 through May 27, the Eta Aquariids (also called the Eta Aquarids) peaks on the night of May 4-5. That’s this Saturday and Sunday.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Eta Aquariids in 2024:
How Many ‘Shooting Stars’ You’ll See
In a dark sky, you can expect to see 10-30 “shooting stars” per hour at the peak, according to the American Meteor Society, which states that “this shower will be quite strong in 2024 due to interactions of the particles with the planet Jupiter.”
With no moon in the sky until close to dawn, the scene is set for one of the best meteor showers of the year.
Where ‘Shooting Stars’ Come From
A “shooting star” is a meteor, a small piece of rock or dust that burns up as it strikes Earth’s atmosphere. They occur when Earth busts through a stream of debris and dust left in the inner solar system by a passing comet.
In the case of the Eta Aquariids, it’s Halley’s Comet, which enters the inner solar system every 76 years. It was last seen in 1986 and will next be seen—far brighter than last time—in 2061. Each time it rounds the sun, a comet warms up and melts a little, leaving a trail of tiny rocks in its wake. Gravitational forces shift these trails around the solar system. If they drift into Earth’s orbital path around the sun, a meteor shower occurs, typically on a predictable date for many years.
Where The Eta Aquariids Come From
The “shooting stars” you’ll see on the peak night this year—set for overnight on May 5 and 6, 2023—will appear to come from the constellation Aquarius. More specifically, from a star within the constellation called Eta Aquarii.
However, while the visual source is a constellation, the actual source is not only Halley’s comet but a specific stream left in the inner solar system.
When The Next Meteor Shower Is In 2024
Although there are many minor meteor showers, the one that needs to be on your calendar in 2024 is the Perseids. The most reliable annual meteor shower in the northern hemisphere, it will this year run from July 17 through August 24 and peak around midnight on Monday and Tuesday, August 12/13. Caused by the debris left in the inner solar system by comet Swift-Tuttle, the Perseid meteor shower can deliver over 100 bright, fast-moving meteors per hour at its peak.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
