When to see the Aquarids meteor shower, debris from Halley’s comet from Iowa

Skywatchers in Iowa have one last opportunity in the coming days to catch a meteor shower, as the next one won’t peak until late July.

The ETA Aquarids, a meteor shower that originated from the debris left by Halley’s comet, becomes most active each May during the first couple of weeks of the month. The Aquarids – sometimes spelled as “Aquariids” – are famous for being fast and leaving spectacular glowing trails in their wake.

The ETA Aquarids, a meteor shower formed from debris left behind by Halley’s comet, reach their peak activity each year during the first few weeks of May. The Aquarids — sometimes spelled “Aquariids” — are known for their incredible speed and glowing trails.

When does the ETA Aquarids meteor shower peak?

The Aquarids, which first became active on April 19, are due to peak between May 5 and May 6 and last until May 28, according to the American Meteor Society. 

The Aquarids follow the Lyrid meteor shower in April and the Quadrantids in January.

What time can I see the Aquarids meteors?

The Aquarids are best viewed during the dark hours between midnight and dawn, according to the American Meteor Society.

The website Time and Date also provides detailed information about where and when to see the phenomenon. For Des Moines, peak viewing is usually between 3 and 6 a.m.

Where can you see Aquarids meteor shower?

The Aquarids should pretty much be visible around the globe, anywhere in the sky – assuming clouds and a bright moon don’t obscure the view.

However, the meteors are best seen from the Southern Hemisphere. That’s because the meteors seem to emerge – or radiate – from the constellation Aquarius, which is higher up in the sky in the Southern Hemisphere than it is in the Northern Hemisphere.

In the Northern Hemisphere, ETA Aquarid meteors appear as what NASA refers to as “Earthgrazers” – or long meteors that appear to skim the surface of the Earth at the horizon.

Heading to a rural area or anywhere that is as dark as possible to decrease the chances of light pollution will also help to unveil the best sights.

What is the weather forecast for Aquarids meteor shower in Iowa?

May 5 will be Iowans’ best chance of seeing the Aquarids meteor shower.

The night of Monday, May 5, will be mostly clear with a low around 48 degrees in Des Moines. Most of Iowa is forecast to have between 10% and 25% cloud cover overnight. Parts of northeast Iowa could have as much as 41% cloud cover.

Tuesday night will see increased cloud coverage with a low near 52 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

Cloud cover is expected to be between 37% and 75% across Iowa between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Des Moines is forecast at 60% cloud cover. Clouds will be thickest in southwest Iowa and the least cloud cover will be in northeast Iowa.

Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com

Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.