Overview
- The shower, which peaks Tuesday into Wednesday, is best viewed before dawn while facing east toward the constellation Aquarius.
- A bright waning gibbous moon is expected to cut visible counts to only a few meteors per hour for many viewers, according to the American Meteor Society.
- Southern Hemisphere observers usually see more Eta Aquariids, while many in the north may spot only occasional streaks or low, slow “Earthgrazers” near the horizon.
- Meteors from this shower are fast at roughly 40 miles per second and can leave short-lived glowing trails that hang in the sky for a moment.
- For the best chance, go to a dark site, block the moon with a building or tree, skip telescopes, and give your eyes 20–30 minutes to adjust; under ideal dark skies the shower can reach about 50 per hour, though not this year.