ETA Aquarid Meteor Shower 2025: How and When Canadians Can Watch Halley's Comet Crush Lights the Sky

Halley's comet takes a close attitude towards the earth about every 75 years. However, the remaining fragments produce two important meteor showers each year, including Orionids and Eta Aquamarine. Shauna Edson of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum explains that when this meteor shower illuminates the night sky, “you know that the Earth is traveling through the path of the most famous comet.”
According to NASA's Bill Cooke, ETA Aquarids produces “very fast shooting stars.” During the peak display Tuesday morning, ideal conditions may show about 10 to 15 meteors per hour. Unfortunately, with nearly two-thirds of the moon satisfied, visibility can be compromised.
The shower will last until May 28. Here's what you need to know about ETA Aquarium and other meteor showers.

What is ETA Aquatic Worm Shower

Every spring, the earth passes through the dusty paths left by Halley’s Comet. The result is an Eta Aquarid Meteor shower, an amazing “meteor” display with high-speed meteor bodies burning in our atmosphere.
NASA's Bill Cooke simply explains the phenomenon: “There are millions of interplanetary debris bombarded every day by speeding through our solar system.”

When and Where to Watch Canadian ETA Aquarid Meteor Shower

The activity period for Meteor Shower is from April 19 to May 28, 2025, with peak activities expected to be overnight from May 5 to May 6. The best time to observe a meteor is between 2:00 AM before dawn and 5:00 AM local time. The meteor will radiate from the low eastern sky from Aquarius.

For the best view of Vancouver stargazers, head to Cypress Hill or Golden Ear Provincial Park. Calgary residents can escape city lights in Fish Creek or Banff. In Toronto, try Ruger National City Park or Halliburton Woods. Montreal audiences will find the dark sky at Montemigasci Avenue or Elles-Day-Budgeville. Ottawa residents can drive east to Gatineau Park.

How to get the best view

To enjoy one of nature’s most vivid light shows, find a dark spot away from street lights, let your eyes 20-30 minutes to accommodate darkness, bring comfort to something like a lounge chair or blanket, and remember to scan the entire sky instead of focusing on a single location to capture all the shooting stars across your field of vision.

What to expect

Under ideal conditions, observers in the Northern Hemisphere can expect to see 10-30 meteors per hour, especially since the first part of the moon suit allows for quite dark skies when viewed during peak hours. Additionally, some overnight fireballs may leave glowing “trains” that may last for a few seconds to minutes.

No telescopes or binoculars are needed – just clear sky. Dress warmly, pack the thermos and prepare for one of the best astro performances of the year.

Whether you're in a city park in Toronto or a wild space in the Yukon area, ETA Aquarids offers front seats for Canadians to stay for Comet in Halley. Tag your calendar from May 5th to 6th and look up!