The next major meteor shower in 2012 is the Eta Aquarid shower in early May. It is best this year on the mornings of May 5 and 6. What bad luck! Another exciting sky event – the closest and largest full moon of 2012 – happens around then, too. The bright full moon will obscure all but the brightest Eta Aquarids in its glare.
The Eta Aquarid shower takes place over a number of days in early May each year. It has what’s called a broad maximum, meaning the shower can produce a fair number of meteors in the days before and after the peak. In 2012, the peak mornings are May 5 and 6 in the hours before dawn. You can try to watch for meteor around those mornings as well. The closest and largest full moon of 2012 will be out all night long around May 5 and 6. The bright moon will wash the sky, and the only meteors you’ll see will be the very brightest ones. Still, many people enjoy seeing meteors, even in bright moonlight. And the moon can guide you to the star Spica and the planet Saturn on the morning of May 5, as the image at right shows.
Find out about meteor showers for the rest of the year: EarthSky’s meteor shower guide for 2012
- EarthSky
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