6 Storm Team Starwatch: The Eta Aquariid meteor shower peaks this weekend!

Welcome to the 209th edition of 6 Storm Team Starwatch. This is a blog that will be updated every Friday and will list events happening in the sky.

Friday, May 3rd 2024

Tonight about 30 minutes after sunset look to the West-Northwest to see Jupiter (Sky & Telescope). You will want to use binoculars or a wide-field telescope to spot this planet (Sky & Telescope). The star cluster the Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters, and the bright star Aldebaran, will also be visible (Sky & Telescope). Jupiter is about to set for the season (Sky & Telescope). Twilight may impact your view some (Sky & Telescope). The image below shows what to look for in the sky.

Saturday, May 4th 2024

Early Saturday morning around dawn the waning crescent Moon will be visible near Saturn and Mars (Sky & Telescope). Saturn will be to the Moon’s upper right with Mars to its left (Sky & Telescope).

Saturday night the Eta Aquariid meteor shower peaks (AMS Meteors). This meteor shower is a result of debris from Halley’s Comet and is typically the best meteor display of the year for the Southern Hemisphere (Sky & Telescope). For us in the Southern United States, we may be able to see meteors Saturday night into Sunday morning and again before dawn on Monday (Sky & Telescope).

Sunday, May 5th 2024

The Great Diamond asterism or group of stars will be visible (Sky & Telescope). This asterism extends over five constellations (Sky & Telescope). It is visible in the Southeast to South after dusk (Sky & Telescope).

The following sites were used in the creation of this blog:

• https://www.amsmeteors.org/meteor-showers/meteor-shower-calendar/#eta+Aquariids
• https://www.amsmeteors.org/2024/04/viewing-the-2024-eta-aquariid-meteor-shower/
• https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-april-26-may-5/

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