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Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower To Hit Peak

If you’re feeling like getting away from the bright lights of the city, this weekend could be a great time to do it. A meteor shower will peak Friday and Saturday nights.

The Eta Aquarids peak every year right about this time, and the meteors are known for their speed. Hurdling around 150,000 miles per hour into the earth’s atmosphere, they leave glowing bits of debris in their wake, which last from several seconds to minutes.

Unfortunately, the Southern Hemisphere gets the better show, with up to 30 meteors visible each hour. But here in the Northern Hemisphere, we can still expect up to 10 an hour.

NASA recommends finding a dark spot to view the sky and bringing a sleeping bag, as well as your patience. It may take about 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust and to start seeing the meteors.

But you’ve got plenty of time. The shower will last until dawn.

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Stina Sieg was a senior field correspondent at KJZZ from 2013 to 2018.