If you’ve always dreamed of seeing a shooting star, you’ll be happy to hear that tonight will provide you with the perfect opportunity.
The Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower will continue this evening, following the peak in the early hours of today.
This is an annual shower that runs from April 19 to May 28 every year, but peaks today, at which point there’s expected to be up to 60 meteors every hour!
NASA explained: “The Eta Aquarids are pieces of debris from Halley’s Comet, which is a well-known comet that is viewable from Earth approximately every 76 years.
“Also known as 1P/Halley, this comet was last viewable from Earth in 1986 and won’t be visible again until the middle of 2061.
“The annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower gets its name because the radiant — or direction of origin — of the meteors appears to come from the constellation Aquarius.”
While our advice for seeing the meteor shower would usually be to head to an area with little light pollution, with the coronavirus lockdown still in place, this is likely to be tricky for many Brits.
Thankfully, there are several other things you can do to increase your chance of seeing the Eta Aquarids from home.
Speaking to Mirror Online, Abigail Beall, author of The Art of Urban Astronomy, revealed her top tips for seeing the Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower.
Ms Beall explained: “Make sure you turn off all the lights in your house and any in your garden so you have the best chance of spotting meteors.
“If you haven’t got a good view from your garden you could look out of a window, especially if it’s high up, or even a roof terrace if you’re lucky enough to have one.
“But meteors are bright so light pollution shouldn’t stop you - the main thing is having patience.”
While temperatures across the UK are definitely rising, make sure you wrap up warm.
Ms Beall added: “Get a hot water bottle, a cup of tea or a bottle of wine and get comfy.
"Use a blanket to lie on the ground or sit in a reclined chair, because your neck might be sore if you’re just standing and trying to stare at the sky.”
Did you see the Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower? Send your photos to shivali.best@reachplc.com
