The annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower takes place this weekend, and will reach its peak on the night of Saturday, May 4, into the early morning hours of Sunday, May 5, but the number of meteors visible to stargazers largely depends on their location around the globe. “This shower happens to be one of, if not the best, showers in the Southern Hemisphere and is a moderate shower for the Northern Hemisphere. From the equator northward, they usually only produce medium rates of 10-30 per hour just before dawn. The meteors are most abundant in the hours leading up to dawn,” said AccuWeather Astronomy Blogger Dave Samuhel. Read more for another video and additional information on how to watch this weekend.
“The best viewing conditions on Saturday night are expected across the Pacific Northwest, central Rockies and along a region from Michigan to eastern Texas where cloud-free conditions will bring uninterrupted views of the meteor showers. Onlookers from Houston through St. Louis and Chicago are also forecast to have good viewing conditions, but light pollution from the cities may make it difficult to see many of the dimmer shooting stars. Meanwhile, those across the eastern United States likely won’t be able to see this year’s Eta Aquarids due to a far-reaching storm spreading clouds and rain across the region,” reports AccuWeather.
