Home
Weather London
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
Career
    Home / Editor's Pick /

    May astronomy outlook: Meteor shower and the Flower Moon

08:00
6 May 2025

May astronomy outlook
Meteor shower and the Flower Moon

Man sits with telescope looking up at the Milky Way.

A quieter month in the skies above, but with one of the more active meteor showers, it's a good time to look up!

EventDates
Eta Aquarids Meteor ShowerMay 6th-7th
Full Moon (Flower Moon)May 12th
New MoonMay 27th
Best time to see VenusMay 31st

Kicking off May is the Eta Aquarids, which can deliver up to 60 meteors an hour for the Southern Hemisphere, but just 30 for us in the Northern Hemisphere. It is also notable for being the remnants of Halley's Comet.

One of the oldest recorded comets to visit Earth, the shower has been active since April 19th and runs until May 28th, peaking overnight of May 6th.

The shooting stars may be harder to spot with a Full Moon rising on May 12th. Native Americans gave this Moon the moniker of the Flower Moon, for its spring timing as flower came to bloom.

We then take a break until May 27th when a New Moon presents the best time of the month to see star constellations above, try to find an area free from light pollution for the best view.

While on the final day of May, Venus is at its greatest eastern elongation, the easiest time of the year to see the hottest planet in the solar system. On the 31st, look towards the eastern horizon shortly before sunrise.

Whichever astronomical event you look out for, it won't be possible if weather conditions are unsuitable. Be sure to check on the WeatherRadar to find the best location for a night until the stars.

Tips: Astrophotography with your phoneread also
Ryan Hathaway
More on the topic
Trapped beneath a blanket of hot air. Heat dome. . . Monday, 22 June 2026
Split graphic showing a heat dome illustration over Europe on the left with a high-pressure system trapping hot air, and an extreme temperature map on the right displaying widespread 40–41°C heat across France and Spain with a large thermometer icon.
Monday, 22 June 2026

Heat dome

Trapped beneath a blanket of hot air
50 years since historic 1976 heatwave. Three-month hot spell. . . Tuesday, 23 June 2026
Black-and-white photograph from the 1976 UK heatwave showing a crowded outdoor swimming area packed with people bathing, wading, and sitting along the water's edge during extreme summer heat.
Tuesday, 23 June 2026

Three-month hot spell

50 years since historic 1976 heatwave
How to sleep better in warmer weather. Tropical nights ahead. . . Tuesday, 23 June 2026
Person sitting on the floor indoors beside a running electric fan, cooling down in a sunlit room during hot weather, with sunlight streaming through a window.
Tuesday, 23 June 2026

Tropical nights ahead

How to sleep better in warmer weather
All weather news
This might also interest you
New records for England and Wales. Broken again tomorrow?. . . Thursday, 25 June 2026
Temperature map of southwest Britain on 25.06 showing extreme heat across southern Wales and southwest England, with Bute Park in Cardiff highlighted at 34.2°C and Yeovilton at 36.4°C amid widespread deep red heat zones.
Thursday, 25 June 2026

Broken again tomorrow?

New records for England and Wales
Seasonal warmth between spring thunder. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday, 19 April 2026
Split image showing coastal sunset with layered lenticular clouds over rooftops and palm trees on the left, and a green valley with river and hills under soft daylight on the right.
Sunday, 19 April 2026

Your weather - Your shots

Seasonal warmth between spring thunder
Storm Chandra makes impact. Severe gales & heavy rain. . . Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Split image showing strong winds over the UK on a forecast map and widespread rain and snow on a weather radar map.
Tuesday, 27 January 2026

Severe gales & heavy rain

Storm Chandra makes impact
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwittertikToklinkList