When is the Eta Aquariid meteor shower 2027?
The Eta Aquariids peak on May 6, 2027
Peak May 6, 09:00 UT. ZHR 50 (40–80+), Moon 0% lit at the peak. From New York, the best window is 4:10 am–4:50 am on the night of Wednesday, May 5–6. Pick your city for its own times.
Best time to watch
computed for each cityAt 4:40 am the radiant in Aquarius is 23° up; the radiant rises at 2:40 am. No Moon in the dark hours (0% lit). Dark sky 9:10 pm–4:50 am.
| Night | Best time | Meteors per hour* |
|---|---|---|
| Mon, May 3–4 | 4:10 am–4:50 am | 15 |
| Tue, May 4–5 | 4:10 am–4:50 am | 15 |
| Wed, May 5–6 peak | 4:10 am–4:50 am | 20 |
| Thu, May 6–7 | 4:10 am–4:50 am | 15 |
| Fri, May 7–8 | 4:00 am–4:40 am | 15 |
* Estimated meteors per hour at the best time from a dark site under a clear sky (ZHR × radiant height × Moon). From a town expect a third or less. Rates vary from year to year; weather is not forecast.
City by city
The best night and window for the Eta Aquariids in our biggest cities, local time.
| City | Best night | Best time (local) | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | Wed, May 5–6 | 4:10 am–4:50 am | 20 |
| Los Angeles | Wed, May 5–6 | 4:20 am–5:00 am | 25 |
| Chicago | Wed, May 5–6 | 4:00 am–4:40 am | 20 |
| Houston | Wed, May 5–6 | 4:50 am–5:40 am | 25 |
| Phoenix | Wed, May 5–6 | 3:50 am–4:40 am | 25 |
| Philadelphia | Wed, May 5–6 | 4:10 am–4:50 am | 20 |
| Jacksonville | Wed, May 5–6 | 5:00 am–5:50 am | 25 |
| Columbus | Wed, May 5–6 | 4:50 am–5:30 am | 20 |
| Charlotte | Wed, May 5–6 | 4:50 am–5:30 am | 25 |
| Indianapolis | Wed, May 5–6 | 5:00 am–5:40 am | 20 |
| Seattle | Wed, May 5–6 | 4:00 am–4:30 am | 15 |
| Denver | Wed, May 5–6 | 4:10 am–4:50 am | 20 |
| London | Wed 5–6 May | 3:40 am–4:00 am | 9 |
| Birmingham | Wed 5–6 May | 3:40 am–4:00 am | 8 |
| Glasgow | Wed 5–6 May | 3:30 am–3:40 am | 4 |
| Manchester | Wed 5–6 May | 3:30 am–3:50 am | 6 |
| Toronto | Wed, May 5–6 | 4:30 am–5:00 am | 15 |
| Montréal | Wed, May 5–6 | 4:00 am–4:30 am | 15 |
| Calgary | Wed, May 5–6 | 4:20 am–4:40 am | 10 |
| Ottawa | Wed, May 5–6 | 4:00 am–4:30 am | 15 |
| Sydney | Thu 6–7 May | 4:20 am–5:40 am | 35 |
| Melbourne | Thu 6–7 May | 4:40 am–6:10 am | 30 |
| Brisbane | Thu 6–7 May | 4:10 am–5:30 am | 35 |
| Perth | Wed 5–6 May | 4:40 am–6:00 am | 35 |
| Dublin | Wed 5–6 May | 3:50 am–4:10 am | 7 |
| Auckland | Thu 6–7 May | 4:40 am–6:10 am | 35 |
* Estimated meteors per hour at the best time from a dark site under a clear sky (ZHR × radiant height × Moon). From a town expect a third or less. Rates vary from year to year; weather is not forecast.
About the Eta Aquariids
The Eta Aquariids are Halley's Comet's second shower. The radiant in Aquarius rises only an hour or two before dawn, so they suit early risers, and they are much better from the tropics and southern hemisphere than from the north.
IMO: maximum May 6 around 09h UT, ZHR 50 (variable, 40–80+), under favourable Moon conditions. Best seen from the tropics and the southern hemisphere, in the last hours before dawn.
Parent body: Halley's Comet (1P/Halley). Active Apr 19–May 28. Radiant in Aquarius; best from the south.
How to watch
- Get dark. Away from street lights the count can triple.
- Lie back and look about halfway up, toward the darkest part of the sky. You do not need to face the radiant.
- Give it time. Meteors come in clumps; watch for at least 30–60 minutes after your eyes adapt.
- Check the clouds with your local forecast: we do not forecast weather.
Questions
When is the Eta Aquariid meteor shower 2027?
The Eta Aquariids are active Apr 19–May 28, with the peak May 6, 09:00 UT (International Meteor Organization). The best night for you depends on where the peak falls in your local night; the city picker on this page works it out.
What time is best to see the Eta Aquariids?
From New York, 4:10 am–4:50 am on the night of Wednesday, May 5–6, when the radiant is 23° up. In general, when the radiant is highest in a dark sky, which for most showers is after midnight.
How many Eta Aquariids will I see per hour?
The IMO lists a ZHR of 50 (40–80+): the rate under a perfect sky with the radiant overhead. From a dark site near New York at the best time, expect about 20 an hour; from a town, a third or less. These are estimates: real rates vary.
Will the Moon affect the Eta Aquariids?
The Moon is 0% lit at the peak. That is little interference.
Where should I look for the Eta Aquariids?
Anywhere: meteors appear all over the sky, they only trace back to the radiant in Aquarius. Look about halfway up, away from the Moon and city lights, and give your eyes 20 minutes to adapt.
Other meteor showers
Dates, peak times, ZHR and radiant positions: International Meteor Organization, Meteor Shower Calendar 2026 and 2027 (J. Rendtel, ed.), working list of visual meteor showers. Where the IMO gives no peak time, it is the moment the Sun reaches the listed solar longitude. Darkness, Moon and radiant height computed with Skyfield and JPL DE440. Hourly rates are our estimates from the ZHR and are uncertain; real rates vary from year to year. We do not forecast clouds.