Living The Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower—Known for Its Impressive Shooting Stars—Peaks This Week The annual show will be easier to see this year than it was in 2023. By Madeline Buiano Madeline Buiano Madeline Buiano is an associate editor at MarthaStewart.com, sharing her knowledge on a range of topics—from gardening and cleaning to home and pets. She has five years of writing and editing experience in the digital publishing industry. Editorial Guidelines Published on April 30, 2024 Close Photo: Adventure_Photo / GETTY IMAGES The Eta Aquarid meteor shower reaches its peak this week—lighting up the night sky on May 5 and May 6. Stargazers should plan to view the celestial event on those days before dawn for the best chances of spotting its shooting stars, Space.com reports. This year, the Eta Aquarids will be easier to see than they were in 2023. This is because the meteor shower's peak is around the time of the new moon, so a thin waning crescent moon will not obscure the meteor shower on the mornings of its predicted peak. A Rare Celestial Event Will Create a Temporary Star as Bright as the North Star—Here's How to Spot It The Eta Aquarid meteors are known for their speed, with the meteors traveling at about 148,000 miles per hour into Earth's atmosphere. The fast meteors can leave behind glowing trains of debris, which last for several seconds to minutes, according to NASA. The bits of debris that create the Eta Aquarids come from Halley's Comet. While the Eta Aquarids are best viewed from the southern hemisphere, they can still be seen from the northern hemisphere. According to NASA, the northern hemisphere has an hourly rate of about 10 meteors. To best view the stunning display, you should find a location far away from city lights. Give yourself about 30 minutes in the dark to help prepare your eyes. Look away from the moon and try to take in as much sky as possible. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit