Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower 2026
📅 Wednesday, May 6, 2026
📝 About Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower 2026
Peaking around May 5-6, the Eta Aquarids are produced by debris from Halley's Comet (1P/Halley), making them one of two annual showers linked to this famous visitor (the other being the Orionids in October). The shower favors Southern Hemisphere observers, where rates can reach 40 to 60 meteors per hour, while Northern Hemisphere viewers typically see 10 to 30 because the radiant in Aquarius sits lower on the horizon. Eta Aquarid meteors are exceptionally fast, entering Earth's atmosphere at 66 km/s, and are known for long, persistent trains — glowing trails of ionized gas that can linger for several seconds. Halley's Comet last visited the inner solar system in 1986 and will not return until 2061.
📋 Quick Facts
- Date
- Wednesday, May 6, 2026
- Day of the Week
- Wednesday
- Days Remaining
- 3
- Category
- Seasons & Astronomy
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
There are 3 days until Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower 2026 on Wednesday, May 6, 2026.
Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower 2026 is on Wednesday, May 6, 2026.
Peaking around May 5-6, the Eta Aquarids are produced by debris from Halley's Comet (1P/Halley), making them one of two annual showers linked to this famous visitor (the other being the Orionids in October). The shower favors Southern Hemisphere observers, where rates can reach 40 to 60 meteors per hour, while Northern Hemisphere viewers typically see 10 to 30 because the radiant in Aquarius sits lower on the horizon. Eta Aquarid meteors are exceptionally fast, entering Earth's atmosphere at 66 km/s, and are known for long, persistent trains — glowing trails of ionized gas that can linger for several seconds. Halley's Comet last visited the inner solar system in 1986 and will not return until 2061.
Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower 2026 falls on a Wednesday.