Aquarids

The Aquarids are a meteor shower that occurs annually in May. There are two main Aquarid showers: the Eta Aquarids and the Theta Aquarids. The Eta Aquarids are the more well-known of the two and are visible from around April 19 to May 28 each year, peaking around May 5-6. This shower originates from debris left behind by Halley's Comet. When Earth passes through this stream of dust and ice, these particles burn up in our atmosphere, creating the streaks of light we see as meteors. The meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Aquarius, hence the name. The Theta Aquarids are a less intense shower, typically peaking in late May. Both showers are best viewed in the pre-dawn hours, away from city lights. The visibility and intensity of the Aquarids can vary year to year, influenced by factors such as moonlight and the specific density of the debris stream.