How and when to watch the Eta Aquariid meteor shower
CNN • • general
Key Points:
- The Eta Aquariid meteor shower will peak between Tuesday and Wednesday, with the best viewing opportunity in the early hours before dawn on Wednesday, according to the American Meteor Society.
- Visibility is better in the Southern Hemisphere, where up to 40 meteors per hour can be seen, while the Northern Hemisphere may see up to 20 per hour under ideal conditions.
- A bright waning gibbous moon will significantly reduce visibility, limiting the number of meteors visible to fewer than 10 per hour, especially in the United States where southern regions have the best chance to observe the shower.
- The meteors originate from Halley’s comet and travel at about 40 miles per second, often leaving glowing trails; however, recent Eta Aquariid showers have been less active, producing fewer meteors than usual.
- To maximize viewing, observers should find dark locations away from city lights, block the moon’s glare, and allow their eyes to adjust to the dark for about 45 minutes.
