Up to 20 shooting stars per hour will light up the night sky this week as the Eta Aquarids meteor shower reaches its peak on Thursday night.
The show is the result of the Earth flying through a cloud of debris left behind by Halley s Comet during its last journey through the inner solar system in 1986.
The show will reach its peak on Thursday May 6 but meteors will be clearly visible from today and through to the end of the week, astronomers explain.
NASA said that to watch the shower you should get a comfy chair and be prepared to sit outside for hours but you won t need binoculars or a telescope.
The Eta Aquarids meteor shower will peak on Thursday night, with up to 20 shooting stars per hour visible in the night sky, according to astronomers.
The show is the result of the Earth flying through a cloud of debris left behind by Halley s Comet during its last journey through the inner solar system in 1986.
The show will reach its peak on Thursday May 6 but meteors will be clearly visible in the days before and after the peak, and in drabs to the end of the month.
Astronomers said that to watch the shower you should get a comfy chair and be prepared to sit outside for hours but you won t need binoculars or a telescope.