Eta Aquarids 2026: Catch the pre-dawn meteor shower from Halley’s debris

The Eta Aquarid meteor shower reaches a pre-dawn peak around May 5–6, 2026, with up to about 50 meteors per hour under clear skies, though bright moonlight will wash out fainter ones. The debris comes from Halley’s Comet, making the shower especially strong for the Southern Hemisphere or near the equator; observers farther north can still see roughly 10–30 meteors per hour at the peak. For the best view, head to a dark location, let your eyes adapt for about 30 minutes, and view around 2:00 a.m. local time up until dawn. No telescope is required, and you can enhance your experience with quiet, dark-sky observing and photography tips.