The Eta Aquariid meteor shower will peak between the night of May 5 and the early hours of May 6, offering one of the best skywatching opportunities of the year over Quito.
Caused by debris from Halley’s Comet, the shower is known for fast, bright meteors that can leave visible trails across the sky. Under favorable conditions, up to 40 to 50 meteors per hour may be seen.
For Quito, the best time to watch is in the hours before sunrise:
- From around 2:00 a.m. to 5:30 a.m.
- Looking toward the eastern horizon as the radiant rises
Visibility may be affected by a waning gibbous moon, which can reduce the number of faint meteors, but brighter streaks should still be visible.
For better viewing conditions:
- Head to areas with minimal city lighting
- Watch without telescopes or binoculars
- Give your eyes 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to the dark
- Scan a wide portion of the sky rather than focusing on one point
With clear skies, the early morning hours offer the best chance to catch the peak of the meteor shower over Quito.