The Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka on 5 May. Photo: Thilina Kaluthotage / NurPhoto via AFP
An astronomer says anyone wanting to see two meteor showers peaking this week need patience, no moon, reasonable expectations and to wrap-up warm.
Two meteor showers, Alpha Capricornids and Southern Delta Aquariids, were due to reach their peak around 31 July.
University of Canterbury planetary astronomer Dr Michele Bannister told Morning Report if people want to see the meteor showers they should wait until there is no moon.
"You want a dark sky."
Bannister said it wasn't the best weather, especially in the South Island, for being outside this week.
People should be prepared to stay outside for 30-60 minutes, she said.
"This is one of those quite pleasures of life where you want to look at the sky for awhile, it's not instantaneous."
At best people would see about 20 every hour, she said.
New Zealand had the best view of the Southern Delta Aquariids shower, but the unusual aspect was that the earth was passing through two meteor showers at the same time, Bannister said.
Although you won't be able to tell the two apart with the naked eye.
"Meteor showers are not a reign of fire across the sky, they are something when you get a small streak...sometimes in the corner of your eye, every once in a while.
"This is something where the pleasure of being outside, wrapped up very warm, looking up at the night sky with maybe a hot drink and your phone well away from you so that your eyes have a chance to adapt, leads to a nice experience."
