What’s Up: May 2026 Skywatching Tips from NASA

VIDEO The Eta Aquarid meteor shower brings shooting stars before dawn, the Moon meets brilliant Venus after sunset, and May wraps up with a rare Blue Moon. May 5 + 6 : Best time to see the Eta Aquarids May 18: Moon and Venus conjunction May 31: Blue moon Shooting stars before dawn, a brilliant meetup between the Moon and Venus, and a rare “Blue Moon” to end the month. That’s What’s Up this May. First up: the Eta Aquarid meteor shower, which peaks in early May. These shooting stars come from Halley’s Comet. Every year, Earth passes through the comet’s dusty trail, and those tiny particles burn up in our atmosphere. That’s what creates those bright streaks across the sky. Halley’s Comet last passed through the inner solar system in 1986, and won’t return until 2061. The Eta Aquarids appear to come from the constellation Aquarius. That’s where the shower gets its name. These meteors are fast, racing into Earth’s atmosphere at about 40 miles per second. And because they’re moving so quickly, they can leave behind glowing trails that linger for a moment after the flash. At peak, the shower can produce up to about 50 meteors an hour under ideal skies. The best time to watch? In the hours before dawn, looking generally toward the eastern sky. For the best chance of seeing meteor showers, go somewhere dark, let your eyes adjust for about 20 to 30 minutes, and avoid bright lights, including your phone screen. …