US Edition30 Meteors An Hour Possible As Eta Aquariids Peak Over MD Skies
Bright moonlight will reduce visible rates in 2026, but the shower can still produce about 30 shooting stars an hour in Maryland, observers said.
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Hunting the Elusive Eta Aquariid Meteors
They’re a prolific, yet often elusive for northern hemisphere observers. If skies are clear, watch for a strong annual meteor shower that’s attained an almost mythical status: the May Eta Aquariids. The Eta Aquariid meteor shower is active from April 19th until May 28th, with the key night being the evening of May 5th into the morning of May 6th.
The Eta Aquarids are dust grains from Halley's Comet. Expect 10-20 shooting stars per hour at dawn.
2026 Eta Aquariid meteor shower best before dawn on May 5
The radiant point of the Eta Aquariid meteor shower is near the star Eta Aquarii in the constellation Aquarius the Water Bearer. The radiant rises in the wee hours after midnight and is still climbing toward its highest point at dawn. That highest point is in the south as viewed from the Northern Hemisphere, closer to overhead for the Southern Hemisphere. That’s why the Southern Hemisphere sees more meteors (the radiant is higher up), and it’s w…
The spring sky has prepared a unique spectacle for us. The Eta Aquarids are a meteor shower. They're special because they're remnants of Halley's Comet from thousands of years ago. They're among the fastest meteors we can observe all year, reaching speeds of 66 km/s. They're also distinctive because they leave exceptionally long streaks in the sky. This year's peak of the Eta Aquarids will be visible on May 5th and 6th.
In May several meteor currents are active. While the Eta aquariums are visible especially in the early morning, the Radiant of the Eta-Lyrids can be tracked all night long.
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