Home
Weather Dublin
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
    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
Long-term trends need a pinch of salt. Heading over 40°C?. . . Tuesday 21 July 2026
Temperature radar of 2022 heatwave where the all-time temperature record in the UK was set. Warning symbol overlain.
Tuesday 21 July 2026

Heading over 40°C?

Long-term trends need a pinch of salt
Heat becoming a bigger factor in drought. New study. . . Thursday 23 July 2026
A hand holds dry, dusty earth above a parched field. The ground is cracked and covered with plant debris – a sign of prolonged drought.
Thursday 23 July 2026

New study

Heat becoming a bigger factor in drought
New heatwave in southern Europe. Up to 45 degrees in Spain. . . Tuesday 21 July 2026
Split temperature map showing extreme heat across Spain on the left and Greece on the right, with temperatures reaching 44°C near Murcia, around 40°C in parts of Greece, and a large thermometer icon highlighting dangerous heat.
Tuesday 21 July 2026

Up to 45 degrees in Spain

New heatwave in southern Europe
All weather news
This might also interest you
Long-term trends need a pinch of salt. 40 °C in July?. . . Tuesday 30 June 2026
Temperature radar of 2022 heatwave where the all-time temperature record in the UK was set. Warning symbol overlain.
Tuesday 30 June 2026

40 °C in July?

Long-term trends need a pinch of salt
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
Bright and warm conditions take hold. Spring-like outlook. . . Thursday 23 April 2026
Split UK map showing warm temperatures up to 21 degrees in orange on the left and clear sunny conditions with temperatures from 12 to 18 degrees on the right, with sun icons across the country.
Thursday 23 April 2026

Spring-like outlook

Bright and warm conditions take hold
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

facebooktwitteryouTubelinkList