Everything You Need to Know About This Year's Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower

Every autumn, the Eta Aquarid meteor shower sets the sky ablaze. It might not be as famous as Halley's Comet, but the Eta Aquarids are actually a distant relation — the bits and pieces you see flying around were on Halley's path a really, really long time ago. And, rather than only being visible every 75 years (the next Halley's Comet sighting is in 2061), you can catch the Eta Aquarids annually. This year, the shower will be at its most spectacular early Tuesday, May 7 (very early) — here's how to catch a glimpse.

WHERE TO SEE IT

Being in the southern hemisphere, we get some of the best views in the world. So, if you're living in the city, it could be time for a last minute trip to a clear-skied camping spot. The trick is to get as far away from light pollution as possible.

For Aucklanders, this could mean a trip north to the Whangaparoa Peninsula or in the completely opposite direction to Manukau Heads. Any of the west coast beaches will suffice, though you'd be hard pressed to find better light-free view than the far shoulder of Waiheke or Great Barrier.

Wellingtonians might consider a journey out west to Makara Beach or Rimutaka Forest where there's hardly a light in sight. For somewhere closer, try the eastern harbour.

HOW TO SEE IT

The shower's name comes from the star from which they appear to come Eta Aquarii, which is part of the Aquarius constellation. So, that's what you'll be looking for in the sky. To locate Eta Aquarii, we recommend downloading the Sky Map app — it's the easiest way to navigate the night sky (and is a lot of fun to use even on a non-meteor shower night). If you're more into specifics, Time and Date also have a table that shows the direction and altitude of the Eta Aquarids. They've been updating this daily.

Apart from that, wear warm clothes, take snacks and be patient. Happy stargazing.