A meteor shower from Halley's Comet lights up the sky tonight 🌠

The Eta Aquariids, originating from debris left by Halley's Comet, promise up to 60 visible shooting stars per hour under optimal conditions in the coming nights, with the peak expected on the night of May 5-6. Observers in the southern hemisphere will be particularly fortunate, with enhanced visibility due to the favorable position of the Aquarius constellation.


Geographical location greatly influences the observation of this phenomenon. Tropical regions and the southern hemisphere enjoy an unobstructed view, while northern latitudes will have to settle for fewer meteors, though sometimes more spectacular ones.

The Moon, in its waxing gibbous phase, may hinder the observation of fainter meteors. However, its early setting during the night will leave the sky clear for shooting stars in the early morning hours.

'Earthgrazers,' meteors that appear to skim the horizon, offer a unique spectacle to observers in northern latitudes. These luminous trails, though less frequent, are often longer and brighter.

Halley's Comet, the source of the Eta Aquariids, won't return to our skies until 2061. In the meantime, its debris continues to provide this annual spectacle, along with the Orionids in October.

To fully enjoy the show, it is recommended to avoid urban light pollution and favor the hours before dawn. A dark and clear sky is key to not missing this astronomical event.

What is a meteor shower?

A meteor shower occurs when Earth passes through a cloud of debris left by a comet or asteroid. These particles, often no larger than a grain of sand, burn up upon entering Earth's atmosphere, creating luminous streaks.

These events are predictable and occur around the same dates each year, as Earth crosses the same debris clouds during its orbit around the Sun.

The intensity of a meteor shower depends on the density of the debris cloud and Earth's position relative to it. Some years may be more spectacular than others due to variations in debris distribution.

Why are the Eta Aquariids more visible in the southern hemisphere?

In the southern hemisphere, the Aquarius constellation, from which the meteors appear to originate, is higher in the sky, providing a better view.

In contrast, in the northern hemisphere, the radiant remains near the horizon, limiting the number of visible meteors. Those that are visible may appear as 'Earthgrazers,' with particularly long trails.

The observer's latitude thus plays a crucial role in visibility. Observers near the equator enjoy the best conditions for viewing this phenomenon.

Finally, weather conditions and light pollution are also factors to consider, regardless of the hemisphere.