Natural History Wanderings

The Eta Aquariid meteor shower may be better viewed in the moon-free predawn hours on May 1, 2 and 3, 2020, than on the peak date of May 5, 2020.

In 2020, the forecast calls for the greatest number of Eta Aquariid meteors to fall before dawn on (or near) May 5. However, this shower has a rather broad maximum, so just as many meteors may be flying on the mornings before and after. There is one big bugaboo for watching the Eta Aquariids in 2020, though. The shower will have to contend with a nearly full waxing gibbous moon. That’s why we recommend you try watching for meteors before sunup on May 1, 2 and 3. Fewer meteors will be flying then, but there will be a larger moon-free window between moonset and dawn.

Read more All you need to know: Eta Aquariid meteors | Astronomy Essentials | EarthSky