Eta Aquarids meteor shower 2025 is active now – when and how to watch it at its peak

ETA AQUARIIDS: The Eta Aquariid meteor shower peaks on May 4-5, 2025, originating from Halley's Comet. Best viewed before dawn, it’s strongest in the Southern Hemisphere and near the equator.

There is something enchanting about seeing the sky at dawn. For stargazers, the Eta Aquarid meteor shower provides that serene delight once more. Currently active and expected to peak in early May, this yearly spectacle presents a stunning sight of blazing trails across the skies.

The meteors are produced by comet 1P/Halley, which revolves around the Sun every 76 years. When Earth intersects with the dust it trails behind, these small particles collide with our atmosphere and incinerate in a flash of light. The effect is a brief, radiant spectacle that attracts sky-gazers from all over the globe.

Fast meteors and glowing trails in the sky

The Eta Aquarids are also noted for their velocity, approaching Earth's atmosphere at about 65km per second. These fast streaks tend to produce glowing trails, referred to as "trains," which last seconds or minutes. The shower may peak at a rate of up to 50 meteors per hour at its highest point.

Read Also: Amazon launches first batch of Kuiper internet satellites into orbit to rival Starlink

This shower is best observed at dawn, particularly in locations distant from city lights. While the display is biased toward the Southern Hemisphere, those in the north can still catch a glimpse of a special view. In northern latitudes, the meteors will be "Earthgrazers" – long, luminous trails that move close to the horizon.

Where and how to observe the celestial spectacle

For the optimum view, pick an open, dark location. Avoid the use of any gadgets that have bright displays and might disturb your night vision. Recline with your feet facing towards the east and let your eyes acclimatise to the darkness for about 30 minutes. Until sunrise, the meteors will continue to dance across the sky.

Read Also: SpaceX hits 250 Starlink launches with Falcon 9’s smooth sea touchdown, see video

The Eta Aquarids are visible in both hemispheres, although southern skies provide a clearer sight of the constellation Aquarius, from which the meteors seem to emanate. Patient observers in the north, however, can still have a night to remember beneath the stars.

Halley's Comet: a famous traveller through space

This meteor shower has its roots in comet 1P/Halley, one of the best-known visitors to our solar system. Cometary astronomer Edmund Halley was the first to discover the comet in 1705. The comet was the first to be proven to repeat in a known orbit. Comet sightings in 1531, 1607, and 1682 were all of the same object, his research showed.

Halley’s comet is also notable for being extremely dark, reflecting just 3% of the sunlight it receives. Its last appearance to the naked eye was in 1986, and it is expected to return again in 2061. Until then, the Eta Aquarid meteors offer a stunning reminder of its cosmic journey.

Ready to wish upon a shooting star? Now is the time.