Eta Aquariids Meteor Shower 2017

Eta Aquariids Meteor Shower Radiant. Credit: Stellarium

The Eta Aquariids meteor shower appears strongest when when viewed from the southern tropics. From the equator northward, the shower typically produces only medium rates of 10-30 per hour just before dawn. Meteor activity is good for a week centered the night of peak activity. These meteors travel at a high rate of speed, and produce a good percentage of persistent trains, but few fireballs.

Waxing Gibbous Moon. Credit: Stellarium

Peak: May 6-7th
Active from: April 19th to May 26th
Radiant: 22:32 -1° (see image above)
Hourly Rate: 55
Velocity: 42 miles/sec (swift – 66.9km/sec)
Parent Object: 1P/Halley

The moon will be a waxing gibbous, setting around 4:00 AM.
Source: American Meteor Society

Eta Aquariids Meteor Stream. Credit: Ian Webster.

Meteor. Credit: Creative Commons, CC BY 3.0