Eta Aquariids meteor shower 2022: how and when to watch it in Australia

The Eta Aquariid is one of the best meteor showers in the southern hemisphere and will be visible in the early hours of Saturday.

The annual meteor show is named after a star in the constellation and is known for its connection to a comet.

Earth passes through debris left in the path of a comet. There are fiery streaks in the night sky when debris enters the Earth.

As the comet goes around the sun, bits of rock and ice fall off, leaving a trail of debris around the solar system. Brad Tucker, an Australian National University astrophysicist, said that the shower occurs at the same time each year because we cross paths with the trail.

This year the sky will be clear of clouds and interference from the moon, which will make it ideal for viewing. If you miss the peak on 7 May, you can still view the shower until 11 May.

It is a good year to view them. The early morning hours will be clear if the cloud stays away.

If the moon is bright, a lot of the fainter meteors will get washed out making them hard to see.

The moon will have set by the time the shower starts.

The Eta Aquariid radiant will rise between 1.30 and 2am on Saturday in most major cities.

Pickard said that if you get up at around 2am and look towards a north-easterly direction, you should see meteors until sunrise.

I encourage people to head outside and enjoy the show.

It is important to be patient for seeing a shower.

I always tell people that your eyes need at least 10 minutes to adjust.

Tucker suggests going to a dark area with a clear view of the sky.

You want to have a clear view. You can get the best chance by going to a nearby park where you have a huge view.

Spectators can see up to 30 meteors per hour in low light areas.

Pickard said you are more likely to see five to 10 per hour in the city.

It's worth getting up because these particular meteors are fast moving and they have a tendency to leave a bright green smoke trail in the sky after burning up.

Spectators may be able to see the planets while they are out.

There are four planets in the morning sky at the same time this year. They are all in a nice line, and it is near the same part of the sky that you might be looking toward for the meteorites.