Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower to Peak Amid Bright Moonlight

The Eta Aquarid meteor shower, composed of debris from Halley's Comet, is set to peak on the night of May 5 into the early hours of May 6, 2026. This annual event occurs as Earth passes through the comet's debris trail between April 19 and May 28.

Observers in the Southern Hemisphere can typically expect up to 50 meteors per hour during the peak. However, this year's viewing conditions will be affected by an 84% illuminated waning gibbous moon, which is expected to reduce visibility of fainter meteors.

In the Northern Hemisphere, skywatchers may see between 10 to 30 meteors per hour under optimal conditions. The bright moonlight, rising around midnight, is likely to diminish the visibility of fainter meteors, potentially reducing the observable rate to below 10 per hour.

For optimal viewing, it is recommended to observe the sky just before dawn from a dark location away from city lights. Positioning oneself so that the moon is obscured by a building or natural feature can help mitigate its brightness. The meteors will appear to radiate from the constellation Aquarius, near the star Eta Aquarii, but can be seen across the sky.

The Eta Aquarids are known for their swift meteors, traveling at about 41 miles (66 kilometers) per second, often leaving persistent trails.

Halley's Comet, the source of the Eta Aquarid meteor shower, completes an orbit around the Sun approximately every 76 years and is next expected to be visible from Earth in 2061.