Overview
- The Eta Aquariids, which peak Tuesday night into early Wednesday, are best seen in the last hours before sunrise as the radiant rises around 3–4 a.m. local time.
- A waning gibbous Moon near 82–84% illumination will wash out fainter streaks, and many forecasts put visible rates below 10 meteors per hour this year.
- Southern Hemisphere and tropical locations, including Argentina, have the most favorable geometry and can still outpace northern viewing.
- The shower comes from debris shed by Comet Halley, and the meteors are very fast at roughly 64–66 km/s, which can leave brief glowing trains.
- For better odds, go to a dark site, look away from the Moon, lie back to take in a wide sky, and allow 20–30 minutes for your eyes to adapt.