Halley's Comet Debris: Catch the Yearly Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower that Peaks Tonight

The Eta Aquarid Meteor shower from the Halley's Comet peaks tonight, according to NASA.

The debris of Halley Comet (1P/Halley) that travels at 148,000 mph burn up in Earth's atmosphere and create the Eta Aquarid meteor shower, each year. The space agency announced that this year's peak will occur on the night of May 5- 6 with meteor rates of about 30/hour in the northern hemisphere and 60/hour in the southern hemisphere.

"The first-quarter moon sets just after midnight, helping to darken the skies. Peak viewing for the shower will be from 2:30 a.m. until dawn, your local time," said NASA.

The Eta Aquarid meteor shower lights up the early morning sky each year in early May and is known to occur as the famed Halley's Comet orbit makes a close approach to the Earth's orbit. This happens twice a year - in May and mid October.  In May they cause the brilliant Eta Aquarids and in October they lead to the Orionid meteor shower, according to Space.com.

The May month's Eta Aquarid Meteor shower gets its name from the radiant of the meteors that appear to come from the constellation of Aquarius.

The well known Halley Comet is seen from Earth approximately every 76 years. The comet was last visible in 1986 and won't be visible again until the middle of 2061.

"What makes this shower somewhat special is that the meteors stem from the most famous comet in all of history, Comet Halley," astronomer Bob Berman said to LiveScience. "As Halley goes around the sun in its 76-year orbit, pieces of it, little chunks of ice, slough off the comet and we intersect that every year around this time, in early May."

NASA, in collaboration with online Slooh Community telescope will host the webcasts of the meteor shower that will begin at 9. P.M. EDT.  It will telecast the live meteor shower from North America.