SJAA Ephemeris May 2000 |
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This month's major shower, the Eta Aquarids is moonlit free. That's the good news. The bad news is that Aquarius, a small "Y" shaped constellation rises in twilight only an hour or two before dawn for us in mid-northern latitudes. It is one of two showers associated with comet 1P/Halley, last at perihelion in 1986. The other is the October Orionids, and like the Orionids, Eta Aquarids are very swift, bright, and frequently leave persistent trains. Both showers show a variable number of submaxima around their main peak, although the Eta Aquarids peak is generally the highest of wither shower. This shower is active from April 19 to May 28.. ZHR is 60, but does vary. Radiant is 22h32m.
It is a good radio shower for both northern and southern hemisphere with high echo counts from soon after the Lyrids of April.