Early May 2025 The annual Eta Aquariid Meteor Shower will be visible in the night sky. The meter shower peaks on May 5 and May 6The best time to observe it is the week before to avoid interference by the waxing Moon. You can expect anywhere between 10 and 50 shooting stars an hour, depending on where you are.
The Eta Aquariids, which are seen from Earth every year in approximately 30 meteor showers, have a famous parent: Comet Halley. It was predicted as a recurring event by astronomers for the first time. The bright comet can be seen passing Earth every 75 years.
Then, you can get in touch with us. MayThe Eta Aquariids are produced when our planet passes through Halley’s debris. Each meteoroid, which is about the size of a grain, travels at a speed of more than 200,000 kilometers an hour. They are therefore very energetic and produce a large amount of light. The thrill of seeing this phenomenon is never lost. incredible night sky event never fades.
Below, an astronomer and Condé Nast Traveler Phil Plait, a contributor to the site, explains everything you need know about the annual meteor shower in May. He also gives a brief overview of what causes it.
What is the best time of year to view the meteor showers?
The Eta Aquariids are active between April 19 and May 28. It’s still important to plan your trip around the Eta Aquariids. moon phases when scheduling your viewing—as always, the darker the sky the better.
On May 5-6, the moon will rise at 3:00 am. It is more than half full. You can also find out more about us on our website. Light up the sky just before sunset. As the nights progress, the moon will be brighter and set later each night. Therefore, the week prior to May 6 is the best opportunity to see the full show.
Showers tend to peak after midnight—this is when the night side of Earth is facing into the direction of its orbit around the sun, so we see the meteors head-on (rather like how rain hits your front windshield when you drive in a storm rather than the rear window). It is best to watch meteors in the late night hours or just before dawn.
Where can you find the Eta Aquariid?
The shower is visible to everyone on Earth. But the Eta aquariid radiant (more later on this) is too low for those living in North America. United States You will only be able see 10 to 30 meteors an hour.
The best views will come from countries such as those on the equator. Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Uganda, Kenya. Indonesia. From here, 50 meteors are seen per hour.
