In Just 1 Day, A Monster Meteor Shower Will Soar Through The Sky
on May 03, 2019 • Updated Jan 29, 2023
A Spectacular Sky Show
After you watch the horses round the track at Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby on Saturday (May 4), another brilliant show is set to take place in the evening. Only you won’t be able to catch this spectacle on your television screen.
Starting Saturday night and into Sunday morning, a meteor shower will rain through the sky like it does every year around this time. The annual event is known as the Eta Aquarid meteor shower, and it tends to be one of the best meteor showers of any given year.
When Is The Best Time To Watch?
Even though the meteor shower is projected to be more spectacular in countries that sit below the equator, the Northern Hemisphere is due to get quite a show as well.
Samuhel says that those living in the U.S. can expect to see 10-30 meteors per hour starting on Saturday night.
The Eta Aquarid meteor shower, often the best shower of the spring, will be at its peak on Sunday morning. https://t.co/0PB41s79Hk pic.twitter.com/Kl8sIc9GmD
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) May 1, 2019
But if you want to stand the best chance of seeing the most meteors, Samuhel says that you’ll need to be up early on Sunday. “The meteors are most abundant in the hours leading up to dawn,” he said.
The conditions are perfect for the annual meteor shower, as it lines up with the new moon. Because of this, even the dimmest of meteors will be visible since it will be so dark at night.
Can't wait for the Eta Aquariid meteor shower peak? Here are some facts about this celestial event: pic.twitter.com/p1dw6zP9iB
— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) May 3, 2019
So now that you know when the meteor shower is happening, you’re probably wondering where the best places are to watch it.
The Best Viewing Spots Are…
If you live in the Pacific Northwest, along the central Rockies, or in a region stretching from Michigan to eastern Texas, you stand the best chance of seeing the most meteors. If you live in a city, the abundance of light may make it challenging for you to watch the meteors fly through the night sky.
Sadly, if you live in the eastern part of the country it’s unlikely you’ll be able to see the shower due to storms in the region.
The below graphic indicates the best spots to see the shower. So if you live somewhere in the red, travel somewhere else for better viewing!
This weekend is the peak of the Eta Aquarid meteor shower, the last meteor shower until late July. Cloud forecast: https://t.co/7EzTw87leF pic.twitter.com/mjXrr0hinc
— AccuWeather Astronomy (@AccuAstronomy) May 2, 2019
A Few Tips To Know
This truly is a can’t-miss event, since it’s the only meteor shower we can expect to see in the month of May. In fact, another meteor shower isn’t projected to happen until the middle of the summer.
It’s important for you to know the best way to view the meteor shower so you can get the most out of this rare occurrence.
Instead of sitting or standing, lie down flat so you can see a larger portion of the sky. You also need to take time to let your eyes adjust to the dark, which is why you shouldn’t look at your phone or any other light source for 20 minutes prior to viewing the meteor shower.
If you live in the right place and follow these simple tips, you should be able to see a spectacular show in the sky this weekend. It’s sure to be beautiful!
Tune in to the video below to learn about more events that will leave you looking up at the sky in awe this month.
