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Source-This post on Eta Aquariids meteor showers is based on the article “Explained: The Eta Aquariid meteor shower and how it can be spotted” published in “The Indian Express” on 4th May 2024.
Why in the News?
Eta Aquariids meteor showers are active from April 16 and will peak on May 5 and 6. These meteor showers are seen in May every year and are best visible in countries such as Indonesia and Australia in the Southern Hemisphere.
About Eta Aquariids meteor showers
| About | The Eta Aquariid meteor shower is an annual celestial event that occurs when Earth passes through the orbital plane of Halley’s Comet. |
| Origin | 1. It is named after the Aquarius constellation, where its radiant point is located. Radiant points are the positions in the sky from which meteor showers appear to originate. 2. Eta Aquariids are associated with Halley’s Comet, which orbits the Sun approximately once every 76 years. (The last time Halley’s Comet was visible from Earth was in 1986, and Halley’s comet is due to enter the inner solar system again in 2061) |
| Unique Characteristics | 1. Rapid Speed and Glowing Tails- The Eta Aquariid meteor shower is known for its rapid speed, resulting in long-lasting, glowing tails that can persist for several minutes. 2. Observational Rates: Observers in the Southern Hemisphere typically witness 30 to 40 meteors per hour during the peak, whereas viewers in the Northern Hemisphere observe a lower rate of around 10 meteors per hour. |
Why number of Aquarid meteors decreases in Northern hemisphere?
The number of Aquarid meteors decreases in the Northern Hemisphere due to their radiant point’s position in the sky. In the hemisphere, the radiant point appears to be skimming the earth. Hence termed as Earth gazers.
However, in the Southern Hemisphere, the radiant points are higher in the sky and more visible. Hence the meteors are more visible.
About comets and Meteors
Comets- Comets consist of dust, rock, and ice. They travel around the Sun in highly elliptical orbits, with some taking hundreds of thousands of years to complete one orbit. Currently, 3,910 comets are known, but many more are believed to exist beyond Neptune in regions like the Kuiper Belt and the distant Oort cloud.
Meteors- Meteors are celestial objects, including rocks and debris, that ignite and vaporize upon entering Earth’s atmosphere, resulting in a luminous streak across the sky. Meteors are often referred to as shooting stars or falling stars. However, they are not stars.
Relation between Meteor showers and Comets- Comets play a significant role in meteor showers by shedding dust and debris along their orbits around the Sun. As comets approach the Sun, they heat up and release gases and dust, forming a glowing head that can be larger than a planet.
UPSC Syllabus: Science and technology (Space)
