In May, the sky will witness an unforgettable spectacle, not to be missed for astronomy lovers. It is about the Eta Aquarid Meteor Showera phenomenon that peaks at the beginning of this month each year.
The Eta Aquarids They are known for their speed, revealing up to approximately 50 meteors per hour in ideal conditions. On this occasion, the Moon will have a percentage of 83% illuminationreducing its visibility.
This event is caused by the remains of dust left by the kite Halley (1P/Halley)which causes small particles to impact the Earth’s atmosphere at about 65 kilometers per second and disintegrate, leaving bright trails in its path.
Read also: Diabetes in dogs: how to identify it? know these warning signs
During April, the Mexican sky will witness one of the most fascinating astronomical spectacles: the Lyrids. Photo: Image created with AI
This year, the Eta Aquarids will reach their peak between Monday, May 4 and Thursday, May 7, five days after the Flower Moon. To enjoy its brilliant sparkles, take into account the following recommendations:
- Find a suitable place: Find a dark place, away from the city lights and of public lightingpreferably away from tall buildings and trees that may obstruct your field of vision.
- Locate the radiant: This will be located in the direction of the constellation of Aquarius, near the star Eta Aquarii, it will appear in the sky around 4:00 am.
- Consider the time: The best time to observe this event is during the pre-dawn hours, looking east in the sky.
- Check weather conditions: make sure the sky stays clear
- Stay away from obstacles: In addition to buildings and trees, stay away from moonlight.
- Get comfortable and be patient: Take a chair or sleeping bag with you, lie down, adapt your vision to the dark for 20 or 30 minutes and wait.
Read also: Interactive map of flea markets; find food, clothing and curiosities throughout the city
The Eta Aquariids appear to originate in the constellation of Aquarius, from a point near the star Eta Acuarii, which gives its name to this shower. Photo: StarWalk
According to the specialized site star walkthis meteor shower has a period of activity from April 19 to May 28, however, the best time to observe this event is Wednesday May 6in the hours before dawn.
According to the NASA portal, the southern hemisphere It is the most favorable to observe them; in the north they will only be seen around 10 meteors per hourbecause the radiant will remain below the horizon. Therefore, it can only be seen in some northern areas of Mexico.
For the space agency NASA, taking photographs of a meteor shower is an exercise that requires patiencesince meteors cross the sky quickly and without warning. These are some tips for taking photos unforgettable:
- Choose the best moment.
- Get away from city lights and lower the brightness of your camera screen.
- Use a tripod to reduce shake in long exposures.
- Use a slow wide angle to capture more of the sky.
- Use a cable to trigger the shutter or a timer.
- Focus your lens manually, point your camera and calculate the exposure time.
You will also be interested in:
What to do if your flight is delayed or cancelled?; This is what Profeco says about traveler rights
Bienestar Scholarships 2026: who will receive double payment in April?; this is known
Join our channel EL UNIVERSAL is now on Whatsapp! From your mobile device, find out the most relevant news of the day, opinion articles, entertainment, trends and more.
mndsm
