science

Eta Aquariids meteor shower 2021: What time is the beautiful meteor shower tonight?


What is the Eta Aquariids meteor shower?

Eta Aquariids are associated with the periodic Halley’s , which is visible from Earth every 75 to 76 years.

As the comet races around the Sun, it leaves behind a trail of debris that happens to intersect Earth’s path around the Sun.

Between April and May, Earth slams into this debris and specks of comet burn up in the atmosphere and produce beautiful streaks of light.

Astronomers estimate the meteors disintegrate in the atmosphere at speeds of up to 70km per second.

The Royal Observatory Greenwich said: “Like with most meteor showers, the name comes from the constellation in the night sky that it appears to radiate from. In this case, it’s the Aquarius constellation.”

More specifically, the shower is named after the constellation’s star Eta Aquarii.





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