Stargazing: Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower

The peak time to view the Eta Aquarids is estimated to be May 5th this year. May 4th and 6th could also be good days for viewing. They are best viewed pre-dawn (i.e. early in the morning, before the sunrises).

Each year the Eta Aquarids peak during early-May each year, and are known  for their speed: traveling at about 148,000 mph into Earth’s atmosphere (source: NASA).

The moon will still be bright on May 4th, 5th, and 6th, but it will be waning crescent moon. It will be rising near the time of dawn, but shouldn’t intrude too greatly.  The brighter moonlight may hinder the viewing of the Eta Aquarid meteors somewhat. (Source: Earthsky.org)

Here is the sunrise, sunset, and moonset calendar for Copper Harbor for the month of May 2021:

• Sunrise-Sunset Calendar, Copper Harbor, May 2021

When looking for meteor showers, give yourself at least an hour of viewing time. Meteors tend to come in spurts.

When viewing the depths of the dark skies, give yourself at least 20 minutes for your eyes to adapt to the dark.