By Brian Campued
Do you have a wish for the upcoming midterm elections? Maybe you can whisper them to the universe before you shade your ballot on May 13 as two meteor showers are expected to light up the Philippine skies this May, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
In its astronomical diary for the month, PAGASA said that the eta-Aquariid meteor shower’s peak activity on May 5 may produce up to 40 meteors per hour “if observed in a clear, dark moonless location.”
Created by the debris from Comet 1P/Halley, the annual meteor shower has been visible from April 19 and will continue until May 28.
“The view of the shower can be enjoyed once it’s radiant, which is located in the constellation Aquarius, rises above the eastern horizon around 1:30 a.m.,” PAGASA said, noting that the first quarter moon may interfere with the meteor observation until the moon sets at 1:54 a.m.
The meteor shower’s radiant point “will be at its highest in the sky at 8:00 a.m., so the shower will be best seen just before sunrise.”
Meanwhile, the eta-Lyrids meteor shower—active from May 3–14—will peak on May 8, producing up to three meteors per hour.
“The view of the meteor shower may be observed as soon as the shower’s radiant, the constellation Lyra, rises above the eastern horizon around 8:58 p.m. and remains active until dawn breaks,” PAGASA said.
“The radiant point is highest in the sky at 4:00 a.m., producing its best display shortly before dawn,” it added.
However, PAGASA clarified that the full moon will significantly interfere with meteor watching.
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