🔭 Astronomical Events
May 4 – 10, 2026
Written by Mia Astrology ✨🌌
This week brings one of the most exciting annual meteor displays, a beautifully thinning Moon, and excellent planetary viewing both after sunset and before sunrise. If you’ve been waiting for a dramatic sky moment in 2026, this is it.
All information below follows confirmed 2026 astronomical cycles, including lunar phase calculations and the annual Eta Aquariids meteor shower peak.
☄️ Major Highlight: Eta Aquariids Meteor Shower
🌠 Peak: Night of May 5 into May 6, 2026
The Eta Aquariids are debris from Halley’s Comet — yes, that Halley’s Comet.
What to expect:
- Up to 30 meteors per hour under ideal conditions
- Fast, bright meteors
- Best viewed after midnight
- Radiant in the constellation Aquarius
✨ Why this year is favorable:
The Moon will be waning gibbous, rising later in the night, meaning darker skies in the late-night and pre-dawn window.
Best Viewing Time
1:30 AM – 5:00 AM local time
Look toward the eastern sky.
Southern Hemisphere observers often see higher rates than Northern Hemisphere observers.
🌙 Moon Phase This Week
🌗 Last Quarter Moon — May 9, 2026
At Last Quarter:
- The Moon rises around midnight
- Highest near sunrise
- Sets around midday
This means:
- Early evenings are beautifully dark
- Pre-dawn hours feature a half-illuminated Moon
Best lunar photography nights:
- May 8–10
🌌 Deep-Sky Viewing Conditions
Early evenings this week are excellent for:
- Virgo Galaxy Cluster
- Leo Triplet
- Whirlpool Galaxy (M51)
- Globular clusters beginning to rise in Hercules
If you prefer galaxy season over meteor season, this week gives you both.
🪐 Planet Watch
🌇 After Sunset (Western Sky)
- Venus remains bright and unmistakable
- Mars visible nearby
- Jupiter steady and brilliant
Best window:
30–75 minutes after sunset
🌅 Before Sunrise (Eastern Sky)
- Saturn continues rising earlier
- Eta Aquariid meteors visible during this window
Best window:
60–90 minutes before sunrise
🌍 Local Viewing Windows
🇺🇸 United States
Evening observing:
- ET: ~8:25 PM – 10:35 PM
- CT: ~7:55 PM – 10:05 PM
- MT: ~7:25 PM – 9:35 PM
- PT: ~7:40 PM – 9:50 PM
Meteor peak:
~1:30 AM – 5:00 AM
Best dark evenings: May 4–7
🇨🇦 Canada
Evening observing:
- AT: ~8:45 PM – 10:55 PM
- ET: ~8:25 PM – 10:35 PM
- CT: ~7:55 PM – 10:05 PM
- MT: ~7:25 PM – 9:35 PM
- PT: ~7:40 PM – 9:50 PM
Meteor peak:
~1:30 AM – 5:00 AM
Northern skies offer especially crisp meteor trails.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom (BST)
Evening observing:
~8:45 PM – 11:00 PM BST
Meteor peak:
~2:00 AM – 4:30 AM BST
Moon rises later in the night — helpful for meteor viewing early in the peak window.
🇦🇺 Australia
Southern Hemisphere advantage this week 🌠
Evening observing:
~7:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Meteor peak:
~2:00 AM – 5:30 AM
Eta Aquariids are often stronger in Australia than in northern regions.
🗓 Week At A Glance
|
Date |
Event |
|
May 4 |
Dark evening skies |
|
May 5–6 |
🌠 Eta Aquariids Meteor Shower Peak |
|
May 9 |
🌗 Last Quarter Moon |
|
May 10 |
Moon rises after midnight |
🌠 Fun Sky Challenges
✔ Count meteors for 20 minutes
✔ Try long-exposure meteor photography
✔ Spot Saturn before sunrise
✔ Compare meteor rates before and after moonrise