The Jordanian sky is on a date with the “Eta Aquarius” meteors next Sunday, May 5

Weather of Arabia - President of the Jordanian Astronomical Society, Ammar Al-Sakkji, said that the skies of Jordan and the Arab region are on a date with the peak of the “Eta Aquariids” meteors on Sunday, May 5, 2024 , and the best times to view them from Jordan are on Sunday and next Monday, before dawn, in the east-south direction, where about 24 meteors per hour under standard conditions.

“Eta Aquarius,” sometimes called “May meteors,” are meteor showers associated with the famous Halley’s Comet. Meteor showers are visible in the period between April 19 and May 28 of approximately every year, and the peak of activity is on May 5 in Jordan and the Arab region, and unlike most showers. Major Annual Meteors There is no sharp peak for these meteors, but rather a broad maximum with good rates lasting approximately one week centered around May 5.

The meteors that we will see in the Eta Aquaridus shower are dust and dirt that separated from Halley's Comet hundreds of years ago, enter the atmosphere, and work to ionize the atmosphere. Because of its tremendous speed (friction, intense heat, and pressure), it is the size of a lentil or chickpea, and burns in the atmosphere, turning into ash, without any dangers.

What is the reason for calling the “Eta Aquariids” meteors by this name?

It was called "Eta Aquarius" because the meteors appear in the constellation Aquarius and near one of the brightest stars in Aquarius, which is "Eta Aquarius."

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The rate of these meteors in general at the peak is about 40 meteors per hour, assuming that astronomical and observational standards are met, whether light pollution or the darkness of the sky, as well as the clarity of the atmosphere and the absence of clouds or dust. On Monday, May 6, between five in the morning and six in the morning, the center of radiation will be in the south. The eastern and approximately at an azimuth angle of 120 degrees, and at an elevation angle of 40 degrees. The number of meteors that can be seen over the Jordanian sky is estimated at about 24 meteors per hour at the peak of the shower. Fortunately, the moon is almost in the crescent phase on Monday, when its illumination rate reaches 6%. Its lighting will not affect the viewing of meteors, and the moon will rise on Monday, May 6, at 4:25 am and set on the same day at 17:37.

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Sources:

jas.org.jo