Monday May 5, 2025

Eta-Aquariids Meteor Shower Peak (overnight)

The annual Eta-Aquariids Meteor Shower is produced when Earth's orbit carries us through a cloud of particles left behind by repeated trips of Halley's
Comet along its own orbit around the sun. The shower, which runs from April 19 to May 28, will peak in intensity from Monday evening to Tuesday morning, May
6 in the Americas. A relatively bright moon will hide the fainter meteors
until it sets around 3 a.m. local time on Tuesday morning. While some meteors should be visible on Monday evening, more should appear once the shower's radiant point in Aquarius rises above the southeastern horizon around 3 a.m. local time on Monday. A few dozen meteors per hour are typical during the peak - including some fireball meteors. Its southerly radiant makes the Eta- Aquariids shower better for observers located closer to the tropics. Moon near the Lion's Heart (all night)

As the sky is darkening on Monday evening, May 5, Leo's brightest star Regulus will appear just to the west of the waxing gibbous moon. That hot, white, B- class star, which is located only 79 light-years from our sun, marks the heart of Leo, the Lion. For skywatchers viewing the duo later at night, or in more westerly time zones, the moon's easterly orbital motion will carry it farther from the star.

(Data courtesy of Starry Night)
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