Astro-Observer

Meteor showers

Eta Eridanid Meteor Shower

By Astro-Observer · Last reviewed November 8, 2026

Active
July 31 – August 19
Peak
Around August 7–8
Peak rate (ZHR)
3
Radiant
Eridanus (2h 44m, −11°)
Speed
64 km/s (fast)
Parent comet
C/1852 K1 (Chacornac)
Best seen from
Both hemispheres (better from the south)
Best time
After midnight, best in the hours before dawn

Next peaks

Expected peak (UTC)Moon at peakMoonlight
August 8, 2027, around 3h Waxing crescent, 39% lit Some
August 7, 2028, around 9h Waning gibbous, 96% lit Bright Moon

Computed from the shower's peak solar longitude (λ☉ 135°). Real peaks can come a few hours early or late, and you will see meteors on the nights either side. The peak hour may be in daylight where you are; watch the darkest hours of the nearest night.

The Eta Eridanids are one of the weakest showers on the IMO's working list: even at the peak in early August, expect only about one an hour from a dark site. If you are out before dawn for the Perseids, a few fast meteors from low in the southeast may be Eta Eridanids.

Where the meteors come from

The shower may be associated with Comet C/1852 K1 (Chacornac), seen in 1852, but the IMO calls the link possible rather than certain. The comet travels around the Sun opposite to the planets, so its dust meets Earth almost head-on, at 64 km/s.

When to watch

Activity runs from July 31 to August 19, with a weak maximum around August 7–8; the table above gives the peak and the Moon. It may continue long after the maximum, which still needs confirming. From mid-northern latitudes the radiant rises around midnight and is about 30 degrees up in the southeast when dawn begins. Southern observers see it climb higher.

How to find the radiant

The radiant lies in the northwestern corner of Eridanus, on the border with Cetus; by the official boundaries it is a fraction of a degree inside Cetus. Start from Menkar, the brightest star in the head of Cetus, and look about 16 degrees south. The faint star Eta Eridani, the shower's namesake, is about 4 degrees northeast of the radiant.

What to expect

With a ZHR of 3 and the radiant around 30 degrees up, you will see about one an hour from a dark northern site, probably none from the suburbs, and a little more from the south. The meteors are fast, and the population index of 3.0 means most are faint.

Viewing tips

  • Watch the last two hours before dawn on the mornings around August 7–8, facing southeast to south.
  • Plot directions: Perseids are fast too, but come from the northeast.
  • Choose a dark, low southern horizon and allow two hours or more.
  • Keep watching after the peak. The IMO wants observations of the late activity.

History and notable displays

The Eta Eridanids are a minor shower mainly followed by experienced observers and video networks. The IMO added them to its working list only recently, with an activity period adapted from Koseki's 2021 analysis of Japanese SonotaCo video data.

About the numbers. The ZHR (zenithal hourly rate) is how many meteors one observer would see in an hour under a perfectly dark sky with the radiant straight overhead. Real counts are almost always lower: under suburban skies, or with the radiant low, expect a half to a quarter of it, or less.

Sources

Checked November 8, 2026.