Right after the penumbral lunar eclipse, Vietnamese astronomy enthusiasts will have the opportunity to observe Eta Aquarids, which will peak on the night of May 6 and early morning of May 7.
The Eta Aquarids meteor shower runs annually from April 19 to May 28, putting on a spectacular show of light that can be seen with the naked eye in the night sky. According to the Hanoi Astronomical Society (HAS), in the Southern Hemisphere, this meteor shower can reach a frequency of up to 60 meteors per hour. In the Northern Hemisphere, that number is only half that.
Mr. Dang Vu Tuan Son, Chairman of the Vietnam Astronomy and Cosmology Association (VACA), said that the best time to observe the Eta Aquarids meteor shower is usually only one or two nights around the peak. In Vietnam, the best time to observe is in the early morning of May 7, from after 2am until dawn.
Because it peaks near a full moon, the Eta Aquarids meteor shower will be harder to see, as the moon will obscure most of the meteors. With clear skies and a little luck, you may still be able to see some of the brightest meteors of the event.
The Eta Aquarids meteor in the sky in 2013. Photo: David Kingham/Space
Although not a major annual meteor shower, the Eta Aquarids have been recorded to have many long and bright meteors. Meteor showers are completely easy to observe with the naked eye in clear sky conditions, choose a wide-angle position and do not need to bring any observation tools. After 20-30 minutes of looking at the sky, the eyes will get used to the darkness and detect meteors more easily.
Viewers should find a location away from city lights for the best viewing. The Eta Aquarids meteor shower is centered around the constellation Aquarius, which can be found in the eastern sky. "If you're not familiar with identifying constellations, the easiest way is to look in the eastern sky, at an altitude of about 30 to 70 degrees," Son said.
The Eta Aquarids originate from fragments of Halley's comet. They are named after Eta Aquarii, the brightest star in the constellation Aquarius. This constellation is where the brightest patches of light are concentrated.
Meteor showers occur when debris left behind by comets cross the Earth's orbit. When our planet passes through this area, the debris (meteorites) hit the Earth's atmosphere and burn up due to atmospheric pressure, creating many shooting stars that can be seen from the ground. Halley's Comet is a short-period comet, it comes close to the Sun every 76 years and can be seen from Earth. The next time it will appear is in 2061.
Nhu Quynh
Source link
Comment (0)