Did you see it? Stunning photos show the Eta Aquariids Meteor Shower - and experts say the spectacle could be visible again TONIGHT

Last night, the skies over the UK were lit up by the amazing display of the Eta Aquariids meteor shower.

But if you missed out over the weekend there is still a chance to catch a last glimpse of this impressive sight.

Due to a particularly strong 'outburst', this annual meteor shower will still offer some great star-gazing for a little while longer than normal.

Even though the peak has now passed, experts say the Eta Aquariids won't be this active for another 20 years and will continue to be visible into this week.  

And, you won't even need any special equipment to get a view of tonight's amazing spectacle. 

The Eta Aquariids meteor shower, pictured here in Dorset on Saturday, reached its peak over the weekend. But there is still a chance to see this dazzling display tonight

The Eta Aquariids meteor shower, pictured here in Dorset on Saturday, reached its peak over the weekend. But there is still a chance to see this dazzling display tonight 

READ MORE:  'Potentially hazardous' asteroid the size of a football stadium will skim past Earth this week, NASA say

Advertisement

Annual meteor showers occur as the Earth sweeps through a trail of dust and gas left behind by a passing comment. 

As these particles, most no bigger than a grain of sand, enter the earth's atmosphere they become superheated and give out bright light which we see as 'shooting stars'.

Eta Aquariids are known for their impressive speed, travelling at about 148,000mph (66 km/s) into Earth's atmosphere.

Professor Don Pollacco, a physicist from the University of Warwick, told MailOnline: 'The Eta Aquariid meteor shower, so called because the radiant is in the constellation of Aquarius, occurs when the Earth crosses through the orbit of a comet called Halley.'

But while Halley's comet only passes by the sun once every 76 years, the trails of debris it leaves remain in place so we always see the meteor shower at the same time. 

Eta Aquariids meteor shower lights up the night sky over the mountains on May 6, 2024 in Korla, Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China, May 6, 2024

Eta Aquariids meteor shower lights up the night sky over the mountains on May 6, 2024 in Korla, Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China, May 6, 2024

Due to a strong 'outburst' the meteor shower, shown here over Hungary last night, will be more active than normal and will still offer a good viewing opportunity tonight

Due to a strong 'outburst' the meteor shower, shown here over Hungary last night, will be more active than normal and will still offer a good viewing opportunity tonight 

Meteor showers in 2024 

  • Quadrantids (January 3-4)
  • Lyrids (April 22-23)
  • Eta Aquariids (May 6) 
  • Alpha Capricornids (July 30)
  • Delta Aquariids (July 30) 
  • Perseids (August 12-13)
  • Draconids (October 8-9)
  • Orionids (October 21-22) 
  • Taurids (November 12-13)
  • Leonids (November 18)
  • Geminids (December 14-15)
  • Ursids (December 23)

(Note: All dates refer to peaks, as viewed from the Northern Hemisphere) 

Source: Royal Museums Greenwich  

Advertisement

'The Earth passes through a number of comet orbits every year and at these times we see an increase in meteor activity, depending on the density of dust previously ejected from the comet,' adds Professor Pollacco. 

This year, the Eta Aquariids were particularly active, with one meteor every minute in some places, according to NASA. 

Dr Edward Bloomer, senior astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, told MailOnline: 'Because there is a volatility to how the comet releases material you can get denser patches.'

When the Earth passes through the denser parts of the comets wake this can create a higher than normal number of meteors. 

Dr Bloomer says: 'This doesn't mean you are going to see a spectacular flurry... but I think it's going to be relatively strong this year.' 

This gave the Northern hemisphere a particularly dazzling display over the weekend with stunning photos capturing shooting stars everywhere from Dorset to Hungary.

And, although the Eta Aquariids typically reach their peak between May 4 and 5, this outburst means they may still put on a good display tonight. 

In fact, Dr Bloomer says that the Eta Acquariids have a 'wide peak', meaning they are still strongly active about a weak either side of May 5.  

The Eta Aquariids are named after the constellation Aquarius as they fall from that point in the sky and specifically the star Eta Aquarii

The Eta Aquariids are named after the constellation Aquarius as they fall from that point in the sky and specifically the star Eta Aquarii

To find them, Dr Bloomer recommends looking South East, about 45 degrees to the side of of Aquarius constellation where the meteors emerge from. 

They should be bright enough to see with the naked eye so you won't need any specialist equipment like binoculars or a telescope to enjoy them. 

However, you will need to get away from artificial lights and give your eyes plenty of time to adjust to the darkness.  

Dr Bloomer adds: 'You've got to accept that you need to get yourself out into the dark, let yourself adjust to the dark and keep your eyes open.

'You just have to sit there and hope you catch one, you might catch a flurry and see a few in a minute or you might go ten minutes without seeing anything.'

To see the Eta Aquariids, find a dark place away from artificial lights and look south from midnight until dawn tonight. Pictured over Sri Lanka on Sunday night

To see the Eta Aquariids, find a dark place away from artificial lights and look south from midnight until dawn tonight. Pictured over Sri Lanka on Sunday night 

Weather conditions may be the biggest barrier to getting a good view of the meteor shower tonight. 

There will be some rain across the North and South of England this evening and cloud will cover much of the country.

Yet there will also be a band of clearer skies stretching from Lincoln into South Wales where stargazers might have a better chance.

Craig Snell, a forecaster for the Met Office, told MailOnline: 'For many its gong to be a bit of cloudy one, but there will be some breaks.'

Mr Snell says the best opportunities will be 'across Northern Ireland, the far North West of Scotland and down towards parts of East Anglia and the South East of England'. 

However, people in Scotland, Devon, Cornwall, south Wales and England's southeast coast might not be so lucky.

Although temperatures are expected to remain mild throughout the night, bringing warm clothes is still advised for anyone planning on spending the whole evening outdoors. 

There will be little rain from midnight tonight but the North of England may be wet
There will be a break in the clouds over the midlands which could give stargazers a good view

The weather might interfere with viewing from midnight until dawn which is when the meteor shower will be visible from the UK 

Although Eta Aquariids occurs annually, the meteor shower will not experience another outburst this strong for 22 years so this is a great opportunity to see a unique display. Eta Aquariids meteors pictured in Wyoming in a previous shower

Although Eta Aquariids occurs annually, the meteor shower will not experience another outburst this strong for 22 years so this is a great opportunity to see a unique display. Eta Aquariids meteors pictured in Wyoming in a previous shower

The Eta Aquarid's also have a chance of producing 'fireballs', particularly bright meteors, as show in this image captured by NASA's All Sky Fireball Network in 2013

The Eta Aquarid's also have a chance of producing 'fireballs', particularly bright meteors, as show in this image captured by NASA's All Sky Fireball Network in 2013

READ MORE: Astonishing moment asteroid explodes over the Channel as it hurtles through Earth's atmosphere

Advertisement

However, there is no reason to despair if you don't have a great view this evening as there are still a number of meteor showers to come this year. 

Only three of the 12 annual meteor showers have happened so far, with the biggest being the Geminids later in the year. 

The Geminids peaked around the middle of December and sent up to 150 bright shooting stars whizzing through the sky.

Aside from having the highest rate of shooting stars per hour, the Geminids are special because the meteors are multi-coloured – mainly white, some yellow and a few green, red and blue.

The next significant shower is the Delta Aquariids in July (20 meteors per hour) followed by the Perseids in August (100 shooting stars per hour).

Explained: The difference between an asteroid, meteorite and other space rocks

An asteroid is a large chunk of rock left over from collisions or the early solar system. Most are located between Mars and Jupiter in the Main Belt.

A comet is a rock covered in ice, methane and other compounds. Their orbits take them much further out of the solar system.

A meteor is what astronomers call a flash of light in the atmosphere when debris burns up.

This debris itself is known as a meteoroid. Most are so small they are vapourised in the atmosphere.

If any of this meteoroid makes it to Earth, it is called a meteorite.

Meteors, meteoroids and meteorites normally originate from asteroids and comets.

For example, if Earth passes through the tail of a comet, much of the debris burns up in the atmosphere, forming a meteor shower.