Astronomy enthusiasts can see meteor shower

MANILA, Philippines – Astronomy enthusiasts in the country could watch out for the eta Aquarid meteor shower next week, an online weather site said yesterday.

The eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks this year on Monday, May 5, and Tuesday, May 6, according to SpaceWeather.com.

“2008 is expected to be a good year for the eta Aquarid meteors. The Moon is new, which means no lunar glare, and Earth is expected to pass through an unusually dense region of comet dust, driving meteor rates as high as 70 per hour in the southern hemisphere,” it said.

However, countries in the northern hemisphere, which include the Philippines, could witness less meteors compared to those in the southern hemisphere like Australia, New Zealand, South America and southern Africa.

“Sky watchers in Australia, New Zealand, South America and southern Africa are favored. It is possible to see the shower from the northern hemisphere, too, but rates are reduced to less than 30 per hour,” SpaceWeather.com said.

The constellation Aquarius does not rise very far above the horizon in the northern hemisphere, and that’s why northerners see relatively few meteors, it explained.

The online provider of space science information said that the best time to look, no matter where you live, is during the hours immediately before sunrise. “If you can, get away from city lights; you will see more meteors from the dark countryside,” it added.

The eta Aquarids are flakes of dust from Halley’s Comet, which last visited Earth in 1986. Although the comet is now far away, beyond the orbit of Uranus, it left behind a stream of dust. Earth passes through the stream twice a year in May and October.

“In May we have the eta Aquarid meteor shower, in October the Orionids. Both are caused by Halley’s Comet,” SpaceWeather.com said. – Helen Flores