Meteor Showers
Eta Aquariids
Next peak: May 6, 2027 · 50/hr
PeakMay 6, 2027
ActiveApril 19 – May 28
Rate (ZHR)50/hr
Speed66 km/s
RadiantAquarius
Parent bodyComet Halley
Moon at peak1% · New Moon
The Moon will be New Moon (1% lit) near the peak — good, dark conditions.
About the Eta Aquariids
Debris from Comet Halley: fast meteors with long trails, best near the equator and in the southern hemisphere.
How to watch a meteor shower
Get away from city lights, let your eyes adapt for 20 minutes, and lie back so you can take in as much sky as possible. You don't need a telescope — meteors appear all over the sky. The best hours are usually after midnight, when your side of the Earth turns into the debris stream.
The single biggest factor after darkness is the Moon: a bright moon near the peak drowns out all but the brightest meteors. Check the moon phase for the peak night and, if it's bright, watch before moonrise or after moonset.