Stargazers can expect a spectacular view on Saturday when the Eta Aquarid meteor shower is set to reach its peak, and up to 50 shooting stars per hour are expected to fall, according to the Purple Mountain Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Meteor showers are typically named after the constellation from which they originate, and the Eta Aquarid meteor shower, occurring annually between April 19 and May 28, is named after its radiant in the constellation Aquarius.

Halley's Comet is the parent comet of the Eta Aquarids, and "each time that Halley returns to the inner solar system, its nucleus sheds a layer of ice and rock into space," as stated by NASA. When the Earth passes through the dust grains left by the comet, they "collide with our atmosphere where they disintegrate to create fiery and colorful streaks in the sky."

For the best viewing experience of the Eta Aquarids, skywatchers should wait for the wee hours when its radiant will rise, which will be at around 2:00 a.m. for Chinese observers. The meteors are known for their speed, traveling about 66 kilometers per second, with glowing "trains" (incandescent bits of debris in the wake of the meteor) that can last for several seconds to minutes, said NASA.

No special equipment such as telescopes or binoculars is necessary to view the meteor shower, and people only need to find a dark, open area away from city lights. Space.com recommends "going to the darkest possible location, leaning back, and relaxing" while "taking in as much sky as possible and allowing at least 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark."

The Earth passes through Halley's Comet's path twice a year, resulting in two meteor showers, namely the Eta Aquarids in May and the Orionid meteor shower in October.