The well-known Eta Aquariid meteor bathe – one of many yr’s main meteor showers – peaks yearly in early Might. In 2023, the peak centers around May 6. This bathe is thought to be richer as seen from Earth’s Southern Hemisphere than from the Northern Hemisphere. Why?
Water Jar within the constellation Aquarius
For those who traced the paths of Eta Aquariid meteors backward on the sky’s dome, you’d discover that these meteors seem to stream from an asterism, or recognizable sample of stars, generally known as the Water Jar within the constellation Aquarius. See chart on the prime of this publish.
This spot within the sky is the radiant point of the Eta Aquariid meteor bathe. The meteors appear to emanate from the neighborhood of the Water Jar, earlier than spreading out and showing in all elements of the sky.
Water Jar rises about the identical time worldwide…
As a result of the Water Jar is on the celestial equator – an imaginary nice circle immediately above the Earth’s equator – the radiant of the Eta Aquariid bathe rises due east as seen from all around the world. Furthermore, the radiant rises at about the identical time worldwide, round 1:40 a.m. native time (2:40 a.m. daylight-saving-time) in early Might, across the bathe’s typical peak date.
So that you’d assume the bathe can be about the identical as seen from across the globe. Nevertheless it’s not.
The sun rises later within the Southern Hemisphere
The explanation it’s not is that dawn comes later to the Southern Hemisphere (the place it’s autumn in Might) and earlier to the Northern Hemisphere (the place it’s spring in Might).
Later dawn means extra darkish time to observe meteors. And it additionally means the radiant level of the Eta Aquariid bathe has an opportunity to climb increased into the predawn sky as seen from extra southerly latitudes. That’s why the tropics and southern temperate latitudes are likely to see extra Eta Aquariid meteors than we do at mid-northern latitudes.
Cruise to a southerly latitude, anybody?
Everything you need to know: Eta Aquariid meteor shower
Backside line: Everybody across the globe can benefit from the Eta Aquariid meteor bathe in early Might. Greatest for the Southern Hemisphere! The height in 2023 is on the morning of Might 6.
Read more: EarthSky’s annual meteor shower guide