They return, inevitable and beautiful, the Eta Aquaridithe shooting stars more numerous and shining of spring: the peak is expected Tonight 5th and tomorrow 6 May. But the swarm is actually for several days, so we can hope for a large number of meteors even in the next few days. We prepare one Long wish list!
According to what is reported byAmerican Meteor Society The peak is officially scheduled for May 5 at 17.00 Italian time, but in reality this meteoric swarm extends over several days (it is active from April 15 to May 27). And observation is certainly more likely in the hours preceding the dawn (above all Tonight 5th and tomorrow 6 May).
Indeed The Moon was the first quarter yesterday 4 May at 3:52 pm Italian time and therefore at the moment our satellite is in the growing phase in the sky after midnight, before hers sunset a few hours before dawnwhen the sky is darker and therefore more favorable to the observation of the meteors.
In addition, the radiant, or the point from which it seems that the falling stars start, will rise in the early hours of the morning, reaching its highest point at dawn.
The point is located in the Aquarium constellation And it seems almost to align with the weak star Eta aquariifrom which the swarm takes its name (on the map the Heaven of 6 May 2025 at about 5.00).
To be honest, these meteors are more visible in the southern hemisphere, where the frequency is comparable to that of Perseid or of the Geminidiremaining above the 35 meteors/HR for a few days, while from this part of the world the radiant is lower on the horizon and therefore the observation window is more limited, but the ETA Aquarids are so numerous that – time permitting – not even we should have many difficulties.
Good vision!
Let’s prepare the desires!
Sources: Earthsky / Earthsky / YouTube / American Meteor Society
