In just a few days, you could have the chance to see a meteor shower at its peak.
The Eta Aquarid meteor shower started nearly two weeks ago, and will continue for most of this month. But the best opportunity you have to see the most meteors streaking across the sky will be next week.
Here’s everything you need to know about the celestial phenomenon and how to watch it.
Often called “shooting stars” or “falling stars,” meteors are caused by space debris burning up as they travel through the Earth’s atmosphere, leaving streaks of light in the sky. You can see a few meteors each hour on a typical night under the right conditions. But meteor showers are special because you can see many more meteors in the same short time frame. During the peak of the Eta Aquarid meteor shower, for instance, you could see as many as 50 meteors per hour, according to NASA.
Read More: What Is the Perseid Meteor Shower and How Can You Watch It?
The Eta Aquarid meteor shower starts in mid-April each year, and lasts until late May. The phenomenon is caused by debris from Halley’s comet that enters the Earth’s atmosphere.
“Each time that Halley returns to the inner solar system its nucleus sheds a layer of ice and rock into space,” NASA said on its website. “The dust grains eventually become the Eta Aquarids … if they collide with Earth’s atmosphere.”
The Eta Aquarids are known for their speed; the meteors travel into our planet’s atmosphere at about 40 miles per second, according to NASA.
“And because they’re moving so quickly, they can leave behind glowing trails that linger for a moment after the flash,” NASA said.
When can you see it?
The peak of the meteor shower—in other words, the best time to see the most meteors—will be from May 5-6, according to NASA.
Read More: Here's How to Best Watch the Lyrid Meteor Shower
How can you watch it?
The best way to see a meteor shower is to go to a dark location outside, away from light pollution, and look up at the sky. You don’t need binoculars or a telescope—just make sure you give your eyes enough time to adjust to the darkness (NASA recommends about 20-30 minutes).
This year, though, NASA warned that bright moonlight during the Eta Aquarid meteor shower’s peak could interfere with your view, potentially making some of the fainter meteors harder to see.
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