Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower Australia peaks before dawn May 6

The eta aquarids meteor shower australia peaks overnight May 5-6, with the best time to watch coming before dawn on May 6. The shower is active from April 19 to May 28, but the strongest viewing window is that short stretch before sunrise.

A clear sky could bring about 50 meteors per hour, though a bright waning gibbous moon will cut into views of fainter streaks. For observers north of the equator, the peak is lower at around 10 to 30 meteors per hour.

Southern Hemisphere Sky

The shower is best viewed from the Southern Hemisphere or close to the equator, where it is one of the most prolific showers of the year. Its radiant is highest in the sky before dawn on May 6, which gives observers the best chance to catch more of the display in a short time.

The meteors come from debris left by Halley's Comet and appear to originate near the constellation Aquarius. They travel across the sky at about 41 miles per second, or 66 kilometers per second.

May 6 Before Dawn

Viewers do not need telescopes or binoculars. They should allow at least 30 minutes for their eyes to adjust to the dark before heading outside, since the moonlight interference during the peak will make the faintest meteors harder to see.

For readers planning a viewing, the practical choice is simple: go out before dawn on May 6, face a darker sky if possible, and give your eyes time to settle before the radiant reaches its highest point.