Stargazers and astronomy enthusiasts are in for a treat this May as Earth passes through the dust trail left by Halley’s Comet, giving rise to the annual Eta Aquarids meteor shower. The celestial event is expected to peak around May 5–6, 2025, lighting up the pre-dawn skies with fast-moving meteors that promise a dazzling display for those with a clear view.
Halley’s Comet, one of the most famous periodic comets visible from Earth, only makes a full orbit around the sun every 76 years, with its next appearance expected in 2061. But each spring, our planet intersects the path of debris it leaves behind, triggering the Eta Aquarids meteor shower. This year’s shower is anticipated to be particularly vibrant, with up to 50 meteors per hour visible under optimal conditions, according to NASA and the American Meteor Society.
“Meteor showers like the Eta Aquarids give us a unique opportunity to witness fragments of space history,” said Dr. Erika Jameson, an astrophysicist at the Adler Planetarium. “These meteors are tiny particles shed by Halley’s Comet centuries ago, and watching them streak across the sky is like time-traveling through cosmic dust.”
The Eta Aquarids are known for their speed—they enter Earth’s atmosphere at about 148,000 miles per hour—and often leave behind glowing trails that linger briefly in the sky. While best viewed from the Southern Hemisphere, Northern Hemisphere viewers in the United States will still get a good show, especially in areas with low light pollution. The best viewing times are between 3:00 a.m. and dawn, when Aquarius, the shower’s radiant point, rises higher in the sky.
Experts recommend heading to a dark, open area away from city lights and allowing 20–30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark. No special equipment is needed, but patience and clear skies are essential. Those in areas with cloud cover or heavy light pollution can still follow along via livestreams offered by observatories and space agencies.
The Eta Aquarids serve as a striking reminder of Halley’s Comet’s enduring presence in human history and its role in creating one of the most consistent and admired meteor showers each year. As the 2025 display unfolds, it offers both casual skywatchers and seasoned astronomers a chance to connect with the universe—and to glimpse the legacy of a comet that continues to shape the night sky, even in its absence.
