Space fans that may have missed out on the seeing the total solar eclipse earlier this month can still catch a glimpse of another spectacular celestial event set to take place in the next couple of months.
The Earth is heading toward another pass near the path of Halley's Comet this coming April and May, which means we will once again be treated to a display of the Eta Aquarid meteor shower.
Compared to other major meteor showers, the Eta Aquarids do not have any sharp peaks. However, they do have a period of good visibility rates that typically lasts for about a week.
This year's Eta Aquarid meteor shower is expected to occur starting on Wednesday, April 20, and will run through Saturday, May 21. It will be at its most visible during the early hours of May 5 to May 7, when the sky will be at its darkest point during the beginning of the new Moon.
The meteors that people normally see during this shower are in fact fragments of Halley's Comet that became separated from the giant space rock about hundreds of years ago.
The Eta Aquarids were named after the Eta Aquarii, one of the brightest stars in the Aquarius constellation, where the radiant of the meteors can often be found in the sky.
The Earth makes second pass near the orbit of Halley's Comet in October. This leads to another event called the Orionid meteor shower, which reaches its peak on Oct. 20.
While people living in the Southern hemisphere have a better chance of seeing the Eta Aquarids, those in the Northern hemisphere can still see some of the meteors make their pass if the weather proves favorable.
Stargazers in countries such as Australia and New Zealand will be able to see up to 30 meteors passing by every hour, while those in countries north of the equator will be able to see up to 10 meteors every hour.
If you're planning on catching the Eta Aquarids in action, make sure to go outside at least half an hour before the start of the meteor shower. This will allow your eyes to become more used to seeing things in the sky in low light.
It's also advisable to choose a location that is far away from street lamps and city lights that could make viewing the meteor shower more difficult.
