The peak of the Eta Aquariids meteor shower in May 2025: when and where to observe

In early May, Russians will be able to observe one of the most active meteor showers of spring, the Eta Aquariids, also known as the May Aquariids. During the peak of the flow, up to 40 meteors per hour are expected. Izvestia tells us when and where it is best to watch a starfall in 2025.

Meteor shower eta Aquariids in 2025 — about the phenomenon

Eta Aquariides is a beautiful and intense meteor shower, the source of which is a dust trail left over from Halley's famous comet. Orbiting the Sun, the Earth crosses the path of a comet every year and passes through a large cluster of its fragments. Once in the Earth's atmosphere, these particles leave bright flashes in the sky.

An astronomical phenomenon occurs at approximately the same time — from the end of April to the end of May, with peak activity in the first days of May. Hence the name May Aquariums. The original name of the stream is associated with the star Eta Aquarius (Latin. Eta Aquarii) in the constellation Aquarius. There is the eta-Aquarid radiant, a point in the starry sky from where meteors fly.

Eta Aquarid meteors are fast and bright, mostly white in color. They leave long trails, just like the October Orionids. The speed of meteors is quite high. It usually reaches about 67 km/sec. A maximum of 70 meteors per hour can be observed in the sky.

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When and where to watch Eta Aquarid Peak in 2025

In 2025, the meteor shower began on April 19th. The starfall will last until May 28, reaching its peak on Tuesday, May 6, around 6:00 Moscow time. According to the Moscow Planetarium, up to 40 meteors per hour are expected at this time.

However, as the planetarium's press service clarified, the peculiarity of the stream is that it is clearly visible from the Southern Hemisphere, as well as at latitudes south of 40 degrees north latitude.

In the Northern Hemisphere, eta Aquariids can be observed in the predawn hours, low above the horizon. Thus, Russians will be able to admire meteors only for a short time.

Meteor shower eta Aquariids — conditions for observation on May 6

The May Aquariums, like other stargazers, are best explored outside the city, away from bright lighting. No special devices are required, as the flow is visible to the naked eye in clear weather.

On May 6, the lunar disk will be illuminated by 72% and will set below the horizon long before the radiant rises, so that the morning sky will not be affected by moonlight, which creates favorable conditions for observation.

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The star Altair serves as a reference point for finding the radiant of the May Aquariids. Together with the stars Vega and Deneb, it is part of the Great Summer Triangle and is one of the brightest in the constellation of the Eagle. The meteor shower's radiant is located slightly to the left of Altair.

To accurately determine the location, you can use a special application, such as Sky Tonight or Star Walk 2. There you can also find out when the radiant rises above the horizon in a certain location, so as not to miss a unique astronomical event.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the Lyrida meteor shower, which could be observed at the end of April.