Astronomical events marked on the May calendar
It includes one of May’s most exciting starry sky events, including the ETA Aquarido meteor shower, which peaks on May 5th.
One of the largest annual meteor showers, ETA Aquarido is set to peak this week, illuminating the sky with a stripe of fiery light.
Continuing closely to the heels of the Lyrid Meteor shower, the Aquardi (occari sometimes spelled coal) meteor is some of the best astral views of the year, especially from the Southern Hemisphere. Luckily, the event is available worldwide and gives the Stargazers a last chance to watch the shower until what’s expected in July.
Created by the fragments left behind by the famous Halley comet, Aquardis Meteors are known for leaving a long, shining trail that is awakened as they fire across the sky, rather than a ball of fire.
Here’s what you need to know about ETA Aquarido Meteor Shower and how to watch in 2025:
What is the ETA Aquarid Meteor Shower?
Most meteor showers are the result of Earth passing through the fragments left by comets, NASA explains. These split meteor materials fall on Earth and burn out in Earth’s atmosphere, creating what we know as “shooting stars.”
This happens every day (NASA scientists estimate that 48.5 tonnes of material falls on the planet every day). When the number of meteors in Earth’s atmosphere increases dramatically, that is what is called a meteor shower. A meteor shower is usually named after the star or constellation that is closest to where the meteor appears in the sky.
The fragments that make up the ETA aquarid meteor come from Halley’s comet. This can only be seen from Earth once every 76 years (next time will be 2061). Returning to the inner solar system, it eventually creates an eta aquarius meteor shower in May, leaving behind rocky dust that creates orionides every October
When will the ETA aquarid meteor shower peak?
According to the American Meteor Society, the aquarium that first became active on April 19th will have a peak between May 5th and May 6th. The meteors are not all bright and dazzling after peak, but the Stargazers should be able to catch some of the light that lasts until May 28th.
What time do you see the aquarium meteors?
Like all meteor showers, the aquarium is best seen in the dark times between midnight and dawn. Time and date also provide detailed information on where and when to view the phenomenon.
How to see the aquarium
Assuming that clouds and bright moons do not obscure the scenery, aquariums should be visible all over the world and anywhere in the sky.
However, meteors are most commonly found in the southern hemisphere. This is because meteors appear to emerge or radiate from the constellation Aquarius, which is above the sky in the southern hemisphere than in the northern hemisphere.
In the Northern Hemisphere, meteors from the eta tank appear as “earth grazer,” or what is known as a long meteor, which appears to be NASA skimming the surface of the Earth on the horizon.
Getting away from city light pollution and street lights can help reveal the best sights.