RING is handing out two kinds of doorbell cameras ahead of a dazzling meteor shower later this month.
The Eta Aquariid meteor shower, which is active between 19 April and 28 May 2024, can display around 50 shooting stars per hour.
A breathtaking shooting star was recently captured over Warwick by couple, Richard and Claire Ward-Jones, on their Ring doorbell camera
The offer forms part of a partnership with the UK Fireball Alliance (UKFAll), a network of cameras that aim to record meteors and recover freshly fallen space debris in the UK.
Ring says the initiative follows recent Ring customer footage of an unusually bright shooting star travelling across the English Channel at incredible speeds.
“Travelling at speeds of up to 70 km per second, meteors travel faster than any other objects in the sky,” Charlotte Bays, Secretary at the UKFAII said in a statement.
“As a result, shooting stars are usually gone within a few seconds.
“That’s why meteor showers like the Eta Aquariid are so special, offering lucky stargazers a rare chance to see an amazing astronomical show.”
A breathtaking shooting star was recently captured over Warwick by couple, Richard and Claire Ward-Jones, on their Ring doorbell camera.
Now, Ring is offering up to 50 Stick Up Cam Pros and Wired Video Doorbell Pro devices to consumers in the UK in an effort to catch more starry footage.
The devices are available to those in the best areas to view the shower, including:
Exmoor
Northumberland
Scottish Highlands
South Downs
North York Moors
Yorkshire Dales
Cranborne Chase
Bodmin Moor & West Penwith in Cornwall
From 9 April, those living in the top UK viewing areas for shooting stars can apply at www.ukfall.org.uk/get-involved/ring to receive a free Ring device.
How to see the Eta Aquariid meteor shower
If you live outside of the eight shooting star hotspots – you may still be able to catch a glimpse of the upcoming Eta Aquariid meteor shower, according to the Royal Greenwich Observatory.
The Eta Aquariid meteor shower is active between 19 April and 28 May 2024, but will peak between midnight and dawn on 6 May 2024.
While this particular shower favours the Southern Hemisphere and will appear low in the sky during early predawn hours – it should still be possible to see the shower in the eastern sky.
If you want to observe the display, you’ll have to be patient.
As the Observatory puts it: “Hunting for meteors, like the rest of astronomy, is a waiting game, so it’s best to bring a comfy chair to sit on and to wrap up warm as you could be outside for a while.
“They can be seen with the naked eye so there’s no need for binoculars or a telescope, though you will need to allow your eyes to adjust to the dark.”
For the best conditions, you want to find a safe location away from street lights and other sources of light pollution.
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