A bright moon may dim the Eta Aquarid meteor shower this year, making it harder to glimpse the celestial display. The shower will peak during the early hours of May 6, 2026, particularly visible from Oregon.
The Eta Aquarids are active each year from mid-April through late May. Under ideal conditions, they can produce up to 50 meteors per hour. However, in the Northern Hemisphere, observers typically see only 10 to 30 meteors per hour.
The meteors travel at roughly 40 miles per second. They are known for their long, lingering streaks rather than bright fireballs. The shower’s radiant is located in the constellation Aquarius.
The Eta Aquarids result from debris left behind by Halley’s Comet, which orbits the sun approximately every 76 years. This year, Oregonians will have mostly clear skies during the early morning hours of May 6.
Challenges for Stargazers:
- The bright moonlight may obscure many shooting stars.
- Cloud cover on the Oregon Coast has a chance of 66%-84%.
- The exact number of visible meteors could vary due to these factors.
Experts suggest that stargazers should seek darker areas away from city lights for better visibility. Teri Gee noted, “The farther south you are, the better you’ll see it.” Nico Adams added, “You’re looking for bright streaks that appear in the corner of your eye for a fraction of a second.” Oregonians won’t need any special equipment to view the Eta Aquarids.
The Eta Aquarids will remain active until May 28, 2026. Following this event, stargazers can look forward to other meteor showers like the Southern Delta Aquarids on July 30–31 and the Perseids peaking on August 12–13.
