Eta Aquariids meteor shower expected to peak over Baku in early May

Residents of Baku and across Azerbaijan will be able to witness a striking astronomical event in early May, as the Eta Aquariids meteor shower reaches its peak during the night of May 5–6, 2026.

The Department of Astrophysics at Baku State University told Caliber.Az that, the phenomenon is named after the constellation Aquarius, where its radiant — the point in the sky from which the meteors appear to originate — is located.

The meteors enter Earth’s atmosphere at speeds of around 66 km per second, producing long, bright streaks across the night sky.

Under favourable weather conditions and away from urban light pollution, observers in Baku may be able to see around 10 to 20 meteors per hour, particularly during the early morning hours between 02:16 and 05:01.

The meteor shower will remain visible until mid-May, gradually fading after its peak.

By Aghakazim Guliyev