An Eta Aquarid fireball lights up the sky over Devils Tower, part of the Bear Lodge Mountains in Wyoming. Astrophotographer David Kingham captured this shot during the 2013 Eta Aquarid meteor shower. (Image credit: David Kingham/Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
The Eta Aquarid meteor shower of 2024 spans from April 15 to May 27, peaking on May 5 and May 6.
This year's new moon timing ensures minimal moonlight interference, unlike 2023's fully illuminated moon. Originating from Halley's Comet, it's best viewed from the Southern Hemisphere or close to the equator, although observers in some northern latitudes can also catch it. With an anticipated rate of up to 50 meteors per hour in clear skies, it's recommended to view it from a dark location around 2:00 a.m. local time until dawn. Similar to the Orionid meteor shower, it's caused by debris from Halley's Comet heating up in Earth's atmosphere.
