A meteor shower will peak over Toronto skies early Tuesday. Here's what you need to know about the ‘shooting stars'
Should the weather permit, stargazers across Canada will be treated to the Eta Aquarids meteor shower throughout the month of May — with the annual phenomenon peaking early Tuesday morning.
At its height, observers could potentially see up to 50 fast-moving meteors every hour on a dark night, according to NASA. But here in the Northern Hemisphere, viewers are more likely to see 10 to 15 per hour, said the agency's Bill Cooke.
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Although it's only now approaching its peak, the meteor shower began around April 20 and is expected to last until May 21.
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Here's what you need to know.
What is the Eta Aquarids meteor shower?
The Eta Aquarids gets its name from the constellation Aquarius, where the meteors will appear to radiate from.
As a result, the event will be more visible from the southern hemisphere, where Aquarius will appear higher in the sky. Here in the Northern Hemisphere, Aquarius will not emerge above the horizon until the early morning — around 3 a.m. EST in Toronto, according to Time and Date.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the meteors will largely appear as 'Earthgrazers' — long meteors that appear to 'skim the surface of the Earth at the horizon' due to how low in the sky Aquarius will be, NASA's website reads.
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Given the high speeds of these meteors, travelling at an average 65 kilometres a second, the shooting stars may be able to carve glowing trails in the sky that last several seconds to minutes.
The Eta Aquarids are the result of space debris shed from Halley's comet as it carves its path through the inner solar system — meaning stargazers will technically get a sneak peak of the comet before it can next be seen in 2061.
How to watch the Eta Aquarids meteor shower from Toronto
The Aquarius constellation will rise over the eastern horizon in Toronto just before 3 a.m., before moving high into the southeastern sky towards the break of dawn.
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Viewers won't need special equipment to see the phenomenon — just a clear night sky and, ideally, a dark viewing spot away from city lights. Toronto's light pollution may drown out less bright shooting stars.
The best time to watch a meteor shower is just before dawn, when the moon is low in the sky. Unfortunately, the moon will be nearly two-thirds full on Tuesday, which will likely reduce visibility.
The weather might also complicate things. On Monday night there's a 40 per cent chance of showers, with cloud cover overnight, according to Environment Canada's forecast. Tuesday morning will be cloudy with a 60 per cent chance of showers.
'Lie flat on your back with your feet facing east and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible,' according to NASA. 'After about 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors.'
With files from the Associated Press
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