Eta Aquarid meteor shower to streak across the South American sky this weekend
The 2018 Eta Aquarids meteor shower will peak this weekend, with a clear, dark sky forecast for a few major South American cities.
As the Earth passes through the debris trail left behind by Halley's Comet, the Southern Hemisphere will experience the most active meteor shower activity. Up to 40 meteors are expected to streak across the sky every hour - or one every 90 seconds.
Those along the West Coast of the continent will have a good shot at seeing some meteors as well.
While unsettled weather over portions of Argentina and Uruguay will produce clouds over Montevideo, Uruguay and Buenos Aires, Argentina, local astronomy enthusiasts will not need to travel far to the northeast or south to find clearer skies.
Tourists visiting the Uyuni Salt Flat in southwestern Bolivia who brave the chilly late-night air may be rewarded with bright meteor streaks between periods of cloudiness.
Typical late-day showers and storms across tropical portions of Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and Brazil will ensure that widespread cloud cover persists through the overnight hours. Unfortunately, this will obscure any meteors through the night.
Similar storminess is expected to persist through Saturday night, shrouding the sky over Cordoba and Buenos Aires, Argentina, Montevideo, Uruguay and much of the northern and central portions of the continent.
While cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Santiago, Chile, will again experience clear and calm weather on the second night of the meteor shower, others will not be as fortunate.
Viewing conditions will be best during the predawn hours, when the moonless sky will be the darkest.
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