The Eta Aquarid meteor shower, remnants of Halley's comet, peaks this weekend, with 10 to 30 meteors visible per hour in the Northern Hemisphere. The shower lasts through May 27, and the next big one is the Southern Delta Aquarid meteor shower in late July.
Key Points
Eta Aquarids occur annually in early May
Meteor showers originate from the debris of comets
Meteor showers are most visible between midnight and predawn hours
Pros
Opportunity to witness a natural astronomical event
No special equipment needed to view the meteor shower
Cons
Visibility may be impacted by city lights and moonlight