Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower | 2026

Rocky Raybell via Flickr

The Eta Aquarids will be active between April 19 and May 28, 2026, with the shower expected to peak from the late night of May 5 into the pre-dawn hours of May 6, 2026. Unlike 2025, moonlight will interfere this year, as a bright waning gibbous Moon will be in the sky during the peak, which may wash out fainter meteors.

Eta Aquarid meteors are known for their speed, with the meteors traveling at about 148,000 mph (66 km/s) into Earth’s atmosphere. Fast meteors can leave glowing trains, which are incandescent bits of debris that linger in the sky for several seconds and sometimes longer. Under ideal dark-sky conditions, observers may see up to 30 meteors per hour near the peak, though viewers in Northern California should expect fewer due to the radiant sitting lower in the sky. – Read more at NASA

Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower

• Active Period: April 19 – May 28, 2026
• Peak: Night of May 5 into early May 6, 2026
• Best Viewing: Pre-dawn hours of May 6, 2026, roughly 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. PST
• Moonlight in 2026: The waning gibbous Moon in early May will be bright and is expected to reduce visible rates.

When and how should I watch the Eta Aquarids?

The 2026 Eta Aquarid meteor shower is expected to produce the greatest number of meteors in the early morning hours before dawn on May 6. For best results, find a dark location away from city lights, give your eyes at least 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness, and look generally toward the eastern sky rather than focusing on one specific spot.

Because the radiant stays fairly low in the Northern Hemisphere, patience is key. You may see fewer meteors than observers farther south, but the ones you do catch are often fast, bright, and memorable.

Source: Ameican Meteor Society

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.