Peak the morning of May 6, 2027 · new Moon (~0% lit), minimal interference · up to ~50/hr · very fast (66 km/s) · radiant in Aquarius.
The Eta Aquariids are the richer of the two showers Halley's Comet gives us each year (the Orionids are the other). They're swift — 66 km/s — and often leave long, glowing trains. 2027 is an excellent year: the peak falls on a new Moon, so the pre-dawn sky is fully dark. From the southern hemisphere and the tropics they're superb; from mid-northern latitudes the radiant barely clears the horizon before dawn.
When it peaks in 2027 — and the Moon
The Eta Aquariids peak in 2027 falls on the morning of May 6, 2027. That night the Moon is a new Moon, around 0% lit — a thin waxing crescent that sets in the early evening, leaving the sky dark all night — so moonlight interference is minimal. As every year, the Eta Aquariids are best in the dark hours after midnight, when the radiant climbs high and the meteor rate builds toward dawn.
Where to look
The radiant sits in Aquarius, near the star Eta Aquarii. It rises only shortly before dawn, so this is strictly a pre-dawn shower — and the farther south you are, the higher the radiant climbs and the more you'll see. Look east in the last dark hour before sunrise.
What to expect
Up to 50 meteors an hour from the southern tropics under a dark sky — and with a new Moon in 2027, that dark sky is a given. From mid-northern latitudes expect more like 10–20 an hour, held down by the low radiant rather than the Moon. Fast meteors with frequent persistent trains are the signature.
What to bring
The Eta Aquariids are a naked-eye event — comfort matters more than optics.
- A reclining or zero-gravity chair — you'll be looking up for a while
- A red-light headlamp — preserves your night vision
- Warm layers, a hat and a blanket — you cool off fast lying still
- A hot drink and patience — give your eyes 20+ minutes to adapt
Frequently asked
When do the Eta Aquariids peak in 2027?
Before dawn on May 6, 2027, though the broad maximum gives good rates for several mornings either side. Watch in the last dark hour before sunrise, when the radiant is highest.
How is the Moon in 2027?
Ideal — the peak coincides with a new Moon, so there's no moonlight at all. The limiting factor is simply how high the radiant climbs before dawn from your latitude.
Why are they better from the southern hemisphere?
The radiant in Aquarius rises much higher before dawn as seen from the south and the tropics, so far more meteors clear the horizon. From mid-northern latitudes the radiant is still low at first light.
How do they relate to the Orionids?
Both are debris from Halley's Comet. Earth crosses Halley's stream twice a year — the Eta Aquariids in May and the Orionids in October.
The full Eta Aquariids guide · All meteor showers · Tonight's sky →