While Halley’s Comet itself won’t be visible this year, the debris it leaves behind in its orbital path will cause the Eta Aquaris meteor shower, which peaks tonight.
Halley’s Comet, a short-period comet that completes a sweeping orbit of the sun every 76-years and won’t return until 2061, leaves debris that earth intercepts each year in late April and early May.
Stargazers in the southern hemisphere will have the best view, but for those in the northern hemisphere, we will still see around 10 meteors per hour under dark sky conditions.
The best time to view the Eta Aquarids will be a few hours before dawn tomorrow, May 6, at which time the radiant can be found close to the bright star Sadachbia in the constellation Aquaris, close to the southeastern horizon.
When looking for the longest meteor trains, NASA suggests lying down on your back with your feet pointing east. This will let you take in a cast swathe of the sky, giving you the best chance to spot an Eta Aquarid streaking through the sky.
