Trending Now - Bright Moon Could Diminish Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower Visibility
WHO:
AP - Teri Gee, manager of the Barlow Planetarium in Wisconsin.
AP - Nico Adams, astrophysicist with SSP International, a nonprofit that promotes STEM education.
WHAT:
AP - The Eta Aquarid meteor shower will peak Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, with viewers in the Southern Hemisphere typically seeing 50 meteors per hour, but the bright moon could reduce that number by half. In the Northern Hemisphere, skywatchers will likely see fewer than 10 meteors per hour.
AP - The Eta Aquarid meteor shower will peak Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, with the bright moon potentially reducing visibility significantly.
AP - Teri Gee stated, “For us in the Northern Hemisphere, it's not going to be as impressive. The farther south you are, the better you'll see it.”
AP - The waning gibbous moon will be 84% full during the meteor shower, which may obstruct visibility.
AP - The Eta Aquarid meteor shower will peak Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, with viewers in the Southern Hemisphere typically seeing 50 meteors per hour, but the bright moon could reduce that number by half. In the Northern Hemisphere, skywatchers will likely see fewer than 10 meteors per hour.
AP - The Eta Aquarid meteor shower is made up of debris from Halley's comet.
AP - The meteor shower will peak Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.
AP - Viewers from the Southern Hemisphere typically see 50 meteors per hour during the peak, but the bright moon could cut that number by half.
AP - Skywatchers in the Northern Hemisphere will likely see fewer than 10 meteors per hour.
AP - The waning gibbous moon will be 84% full during the meteor shower.
WHERE:
AP - The best viewing locations are away from city lights and tall buildings, particularly in the vicinity of constellation Aquarius and bright star Eta Aquarii.
WHEN:
AP - Halley's comet will next swing by Earth in 2061.
WHY:
AP - Meteor showers occur when the Earth passes through trails of debris left behind from comets or asteroids.
HOW:
AP - To view the meteors, it is recommended to go outside just before dawn, avoid looking at phones to allow eyes to adjust to darkness, and look for bright streaks in the sky.
AP - To view the meteors, it is recommended to bring blankets and lawn chairs, avoid looking at phones, and give eyes time to adjust to darkness.
AP - To view the meteors, it is recommended to go outside just before dawn, avoid looking at phones to allow eyes to adjust to darkness, and look for bright streaks in the sky.
AP - To view the meteors, it is recommended to go outside just before dawn, avoid looking at phones to allow eyes to adjust to darkness, and look for bright streaks in the sky.
(UPDATED May 3, 2026 15:10 UTC)
The Eta Aquarid meteor shower is set to peak Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, with viewers in the Southern Hemisphere potentially spotting up to 50 meteors per hour, although a bright moon may cut that number in half. In the Northern Hemisphere, skywatchers can expect to see fewer than 10 meteors per hour. To catch the best view, it's advised to head outside just before dawn, avoid looking at screens to help your eyes adjust to the darkness, and keep an eye out for bright streaks in the sky.
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(UPDATED May 3, 2026 11:10 UTC)
The Eta Aquarid meteor shower is set to peak Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, but the bright, 84% full waning gibbous moon may significantly reduce visibility. According to Teri Gee, those in the Northern Hemisphere might not see as many meteors, while viewers farther south will have a better chance of enjoying the display. To enhance your viewing experience, it's suggested to bring blankets and lawn chairs, avoid looking at your phone, and allow your eyes time to adjust to the darkness.
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(UPDATED May 3, 2026 01:26 UTC)
The Eta Aquarid meteor shower is set to peak Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, with viewers in the Southern Hemisphere potentially spotting up to 50 meteors per hour, although the bright moon may cut that number in half. Meanwhile, skywatchers in the Northern Hemisphere can expect to see fewer than 10 meteors per hour. For the best viewing experience, it's advised to head outside just before dawn, avoid looking at phones to help your eyes adjust to the darkness, and keep an eye out for bright streaks in the sky.
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(UPDATED May 2, 2026 23:11 UTC)
The Eta Aquarid meteor shower, which is made up of debris from Halley's comet, will peak Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, offering viewers in the Southern Hemisphere the chance to see up to 50 meteors per hour, although the bright moon may reduce that number significantly. Skywatchers in the Northern Hemisphere can expect to see fewer than 10 meteors per hour, with the waning gibbous moon being 84% full during the event. For the best viewing experience, it's recommended to find a spot away from city lights and tall buildings, particularly near the constellation Aquarius and bright star Eta Aquarii, and to head outside just before dawn while allowing your eyes to adjust to the darkness.