Science

Eta Aquariid meteor shower: Wish on a shooting star this weekend

by The Curator

Updated June 02, 2025

Eta Aquariid meteor shower: Wish on a shooting star this weekend

This long-bank holiday weekend is an ideal time wish upon a shooting star.

The Eta Aquariid meteor shower is predicted to reveal as many as 30 shooting stars per hour from some vantage points.

Eta Aquariid, a 'shower' of meteors that are debris from Halley's Comet, passes through the earth's night sky this weekend.

Whilst Halley's Comet is visible every 76 years, Eta Aquariid is an annual occurrence.

Unlike many similar celestial spectacles, this meteor shower last a number of days and does have a 'peak' viewing time - so it gives stargazers across the planet more opportunity see see it.

It is best observed from the Southern Hemisphere, however, with a higher count of visible meteors likely for those down under.

In the Northern Hemisphere, in places like the UK and Ireland, fewer meteors will be visible and they may be harder to spot.

For optimal viewing, it is recommended to be in a dark location away from city lights and to watch the skies in the pre-dawn hours. Some experts suggest 2:00am, local time, as an optimal time for the light conditions.

Viewing conditions for British and Irish stargazers are boosted this year though, thanks to the moon's cycle giving minimal moonlight interference this weekend.

The shower is part of the legacy of Halley’s Comet, visible from Earth every 76 years. Even in years, it is not visible, the comet's debris gives Earth two annual meteor showers: the Eta Aquariid in May and the Orionid in October.