Skygazers are in for a celestial treat as the daytime Arietids meteor shower will reach its peak this Friday. Unlike other meteor showers that peak after dark, the Arietids reaches its maximum intensity during daylight hours. The radiant point of the shower is in the constellation Aries, but due to its daytime nature, it is difficult to observe. The shower originates from Comet 96P/Machholz, leaving behind a trail of dust that collides with the Earth’s atmosphere, creating the meteors we see during the shower.
The Arietids meteor shower is known for its relatively slow speed, with meteors entering the atmosphere at around 21km per second. Observing the shower can be challenging due to its daytime peak, but there is a chance to spot some meteors in the final dark hour before dawn. The dust stream that causes the Arietids shower is believed to be clumpy, leading to variations in intensity from year to year. Experts recommend looking for meteors around 3am on June 7, with a clear eastern sky and minimal light pollution.
In addition to the Arietids shower, a planetary parade is set to occur next month, featuring Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. This alignment of planets will be visible throughout June, with the best observation time being around an hour before sunrise at 4.30am. The next planetary alignment involving the same six planets is scheduled for August 28. Stargazers are in for a treat with both the meteor shower and the upcoming planetary parade, offering unique opportunities to witness celestial events in the sky.
