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Wednesday night through Thursday morning will be one of those special dates scattered throughout the year, when skywatchers can catch a meteor shower as numerous potentially exploding flares in the dark.

Meteor showers occur when our planet enters a field of debris left behind by icy comets or rocky asteroids orbiting the sun. These tiny particles burn in the atmosphere, giving rise to blazing light paths. The regularity of orbital mechanics means that any meteor shower happens at roughly the same time each year.

The latest shower is the Eta Aquariids, also sometimes called Eta Aquarids. They have been active since April 15th and going to May 27th, but will peak on May 4-5 or Wednesday night, early Thursday morning.

The Eta Aquariids are one of two showers in October that originate from the debris field of Halley’s comet, along with the Orionids. The debris will enter via Earth’s Equator, meaning it will be visible in both hemispheres around the world.

During peak times, which should be between 3 am and twilight on May 5, moonlight will be minimal. But before and after this date the shower should be quite active for about a week. In recent years, Eta Aquariids have produced between 45 and 85 meteors per hour in dark sky conditions.

And there are more meteor showers to come. Visit The Times’ list of major showers expected in 2022or Sync our huge curated collection of space and astronomy events with your personal digital calendar.

how to see shower

Best practice is to go to the countryside and stay as far away from artificial light sources as possible. People in the countryside may have the luxury of going out. But city dwellers also have options.

Many cities have an astronomical community that maintains a special area of ​​dark skies. “I suggest you contact them and find out where they are,” said Robert Lunsford, secretary general of the International Meteor Organization.

Meteor showers are usually best seen after midnight, when the sky is the darkest, but before sunrise. To see as many meteors as possible, wait 30 to 45 minutes after reaching your viewing location. This will allow your eyes to get used to the dark. Then sit back and see a vast expanse of the night sky. Clear nights, higher altitudes, and when the moon is weak or absent are best. Mr. Lunsford offered a good rule of thumb: “The more stars you can see, the more meteors you can see.”

Binoculars or telescopes are not necessary for meteor showers and will actually limit your view.