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2026 Eta Aquariid meteor shower best before dawn on May 5

May's Eta Aquariid meteor shower is best in 2026 on the morning of May 5. Find a way to block the moonlight and watch in the hours before dawn.

Many short glowing streaks in a mostly dark sky. One has a bright explosion at its end.

Meteor showers are here! 10 easy tips for watching

Meteor showers are unpredictable but nothing beats them for a fun and relaxing time under the stars. Here are our 10 tips to optimize your meteor viewing time.

Meteor shower guide 2026: Up next … the Eta Aquariids

Up next is the Eta Aquariid meteor shower. Watch for them before dawn on May 5. Your 2026 meteor shower guide here.

Timelapse of Geminid meteor shower with dozens of meteors streaking across the sky.

New meteor shower from an asteroid being eroded by the sun

A new meteor shower has been linked to an asteroid that was broken up when it passed too close to the sun. Find out more here.

Will the Ohio meteor fall yield a bonanza of space rocks?

The meteor that shook parts of Ohio and Pennsylvania on St. Patrick's day dropped meteorites on the landscape. See a strewn field map and some meteorites.

Extremely bright ball in the sky with explosion behind it over city street.

Chelyabinsk meteor: February 15, 2013

On February 15, 2013, the Chelyabinsk meteor streaked across the sky over Russia - brighter than the sun - and then exploded.

Very irregular, shiny silver rock-like object on a clear plastic stand.

Meteorite hunting? Here’s tips on how to find one

Meteorite hunters look for rocks different from their surroundings. Later, they analyze the properties of unusual rocks to confirm it's a meteorite.

Bright meteor streak under a bright gibbous moon and a few stars showing as well.

Meteors in moonlight: 6 tips for watching

Meteors in moonlight: it's not optimal, but it's happening for the Taurids in 2025! Here are 6 tips for watching this year's shower.

A white streak cuts across the deep, muted orange sky above silhouetted trees against a backdrop of stars.

Learn how to shoot photos of meteors

Want to shoot photos of meteors with your camera? The first step is planning. The next step is to gather your equipment. Then on to the capture process.

An irregular rocky body hurtling through space, surrounded by a cloud of haze.

Comet Halley is the parent of 2 meteor showers

The famous comet Halley spawns both the October Orionid meteor shower and the May Eta Aquariid meteor shower. It'll return to the inner solar system in 2061.

Long bright streak in starry blue sky above a lake with distant mountains.

How high up are meteors when they begin to glow?

How high up are meteors when they begin to glow? Meteors begin to glow almost as soon as they hit Earth's atmosphere, but vaporize at varying altitudes.

Ten thin, white streaks of different lengths radiating out from a small, white circle in a dark sky.

Radiant point of meteor showers: All you need to know

Meteors enter Earth's atmosphere on parallel paths. So, you'll see meteors appear to come from a single point in the sky: the radiant point!

2 bright dots in a dark blue sky. There are some trees in the foreground.

Venus and Jupiter conjunction. Plus meteors! See the images

Venus and Jupiter - the 2 brightest planets in Earth’s sky – were closest together for this year Monday morning. Here are the best images.

Aerial view of part of huge Grand Canyon with the river in the bottom.

Grand Canyon landslide due to Meteor Crater impact?

Two world-famous Arizona attractions – the Grand Canyon and Meteor Crater Natural Landmark – might share a hidden connection.

Part of gray sphere covered in craters on black background.

Meteorites from Mercury: Have we finally found some?

Mysteriously, scientists have never confirmed any meteorites that have reached Earth from Mercury. But a new study has found 2 strong candidates.

Bare tree beside a bright light shooting downward in the background during night.

Most meteorites that hit Earth aren’t typical. Why?

Observations and sample-return missions show us that space rocks tend to be rich in water, carbon and organic compounds. Yet meteorites on Earth are not. Why?

Mudball meteorites: Irregularly-shaped dark stone with pointed top half, sitting on black cloth with small wooden cube next to it. The cube says

Not all mudball meteorites are weak, new study shows

The Aguas Zarcas mudball meteorites, which landed in Costa Rica in 2019, were stronger than expected. A new study shows that not all mudballs are weak.

The Great Meteor Procession 112 years ago

On February 9, 1913, lucky observers witnessed the Great Meteor Procession. Bright meteors soared horizontally across the sky for minutes at a time.

Dark starburst rays emanate from a central region on a lumpy white background.

KA-BOOM! Mars shakes when meteors smash into the planet

Astronomers have used AI to connect meteor impacts on Mars with marsquakes. They found that seismic waves can travel faster through the planet than expected.

Meteorite: Star-shaped pattern of gray dust on cement walkway. A garden hose lies next to it.

Wham! Hear a meteorite hit the ground for the 1st time

See and hear a meteorite for the first time as it hits the ground outside a home on Prince Edward Island in Canada. Watch and listen here!

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2026 Eta Aquariid meteor shower best before dawn on May 5

Meteor showers are here! 10 easy tips for watching

Meteor shower guide 2026: Up next … the Eta Aquariids

New meteor shower from an asteroid being eroded by the sun

Will the Ohio meteor fall yield a bonanza of space rocks?

Chelyabinsk meteor: February 15, 2013

Meteorite hunting? Here’s tips on how to find one

Meteors in moonlight: 6 tips for watching

Learn how to shoot photos of meteors

Comet Halley is the parent of 2 meteor showers

How high up are meteors when they begin to glow?

Radiant point of meteor showers: All you need to know

Venus and Jupiter conjunction. Plus meteors! See the images

Grand Canyon landslide due to Meteor Crater impact?

Meteorites from Mercury: Have we finally found some?

Most meteorites that hit Earth aren’t typical. Why?

Not all mudball meteorites are weak, new study shows

The Great Meteor Procession 112 years ago

KA-BOOM! Mars shakes when meteors smash into the planet

Wham! Hear a meteorite hit the ground for the 1st time