‘Eta Aquariids’ meteor shower is visible from Kuwait: astronomer

KUWAIT CITY, May 7, (KUNA): Eta Aquariids meteor shower was visible from Kuwait when it crossed the Earth atmosphere on May 6, Kuwaiti astronomer Adel Al-Saadoun said.

He told KUNA that the meteor shower would skim the atmosphere from April 19 until May 28 and would peak on May 5-6.

The Eta Aquariids, named after the Aquarius constellation, derive from the debris of Halley’s Comet, the well-known comet that is visible from earth every 76 years.

Al-Saadoun said the meteor would leave behind a trail of dust, gases and rocks. When the Earth orbit intersects with comets’ orbits, it attracts them to the atmosphere at 66 km/s speed. They burn at an altitude of some 80 kms above the surface of the Earth.

The Kuwaiti astronomer said that at 2 a.m. until dawn was the best time to watch the meteor activity.