How to see meteor shower that only happens once a year in Scotland in May
Experts have revealed their top tips for catching a glimpse of the breathtaking celestial event coming for the UK
Shooting stars seem like something only movie characters or TV protagonists see, but Scots could catch a glimpse of the mesmerising phenomenon themselves due to an upcoming meteor shower that only happens once a year.
The first week of May brings the annual Eta Aquarid meteors, which peak on Tuesday, May 6. The meteors originate from Comet Halley. Earth passes through the comet's dust stream each May, and again in October. Eta Aquarids are fast moving, and a lot of them produce persistent dust trains that linger for seconds after the meteor's initial streak.
The annual shower is more subdued in the Northern Hemisphere, but Brits can still typically see 10-20 meteors per hour, according to NASA. On the peak night this year, the moon sets by around 3am, leaving dark skies until dawn.
This makes for ideal viewing conditions. While the peak is early on the morning of May 6, the two or three nights before that are also decent opportunities to spy a few shooting stars. So, Scots could start looking up now.
Skies are expected to light up from midnight to dawn on Monday, May 5, in exciting news for stargazers. Southern parts of the UK are on track to get the best sightings, with up to 50 meteors per hour predicted in the early hours.
However, astronomy enthusiasts north of the border should not despair. This is because Parkdean Resorts has revealed a list of top tips for budding astronomers hoping to catch a glimpse of the highly anticipated Eta Aquarids.
Top tips for spotting meteor showers
Get up high
The further up you are, the better your chance of a clear sky to see the stars.
Take a hike and explore the surroundings to find the perfect stargazing spot.
The further you are away from light pollution the better chance you'll have of seeing the stars.
Adjust your eyes ahead of time
To maximise your chances of catching a glimpse, it is essential to allow your eyes the time to adjust to the night sky. It can take your vision up to 30 minutes to become acclimated to darker or low light conditions.
Therefore, it is essential to avoid using bright lights ahead of stargazing.
Locate the radiant
Using a star chart can help identify the radiant of the meteor shower - the one point it will appear to radiate from.
Download a star chart app to allow you to point the camera at the sky and find the Eta Aquarids.
This will tell you exactly what is up there.
Elsewhere, for planet watching this month, you'll find Mars and Jupiter in the west following sunset.
Mars sticks around for several hours after it gets dark out, but Jupiter is setting by 9.30/10pm, and getting lower in the sky each day. What's more, the first quarter Moon appears right next to the Red Planet on Saturday, May 3.
Find them in the west during the first half of the night that evening.
In the morning sky, Venus and Saturn are the planets to look for in May. They begin the month appearing close together on the sky, and progressively pull farther apart as the month goes on.
For several days in late May, early risers will enjoy a gathering of the Moon with Saturn and Venus in the eastern sky before dawn. Watch as the Moon passes the two planets while becoming an increasingly slimmer crescent.
Finally, you'll find the Moon hanging between Venus and Saturn on May 23.
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