Debris from the tail of one of the most famous comets of all – Halley’s comet – will slam into the Earth’s atmosphere this week, creating a meteor shower. The Eta Aquariids are not fantastically well placed for northern sky watchers, but they can still be rewarding for those willing to get up in the early hours.
Unlike most meteor showers, which have a definite night of peak activity, there is roughly a week of activity during the Eta Aquariids, which are usually centred around the nights of 5-7 May.
The meteor shower radiates from a spot in the constellation Aquarius, the water bearer, which only rises in the early hours of the morning at this time of year from the UK. Hence, the best time to look for these meteors is from 03:00-05:00 BST. The chart shows the view looking east from London at 04:00 BST on 6 May 2025.
In the southern hemisphere, the view is much better. Observers can expect to see up to 50 meteors an hour. Those in the north will get fewer than this but those that do appear could be spectacular. The Eta Aquariids are known for being fast meteors that often leave lingering trails in the sky.
