I enjoyed two beautiful nights of observing the Eta Aquariids (ETA) meteor shower near its peak activity, this past weekend, during the last two hours towards dawn. From my location near Ottawa (Ontario), my latitude is 45 degrees, so I typically get to see just a few of these meteors but these can appear as colourful earthgrazers.

In two hours (May 4/5, 0651-0851 UT), I saw 9 ETA (just one in the first hour, but as many as 8 during the second hour).  It appeared that a peak was occurring as bright morning twilight was starting.  The brightest ETA, at 4:41am (local time) was a mag -2 with a one second train near the zenith.  I also saw two possible Eta Lyrids.

May 4/5 2019, 06:51-08:51 UT (02:51-04:51 EDT)
Location: Westmeath Lookout, Ontario, Canada
(76.859 W 45.793 N)

Observed showers:
Antihelion (ANT) – 15:48 (237) -20
eta Lyrids (ELY) – 19:04 (286) +43
eta Aquariids (ETA) – 22:25 (336) -02

06:51-07:51 UT (02:51-03:51 EDT); clear; 3/5 trans; F 1.00; LM 6.30; facing SE50 deg; teff 1.00 hr, temp +3C
ANT: two: +3; +4
ELY: two: +2; +5
ETA: one: +4
Sporadics: two: +1; +3
Total meteors: Seven

07:51-08:51 UT (03:51-04:51 EDT); clear; 3/5 trans; F 1.00; LM 5.78; facing SE65 deg; teff 1.00 hr, temp +1C
ETA: eight: -2; 0(2); +1; +3(2); +4; +5
ELY: one: +4
Sporadics: two: +3; +4
Total meteors: Eleven

Eta Aquariid meteor and Milky Way above Westmeath Lookout, Whitewater Region, Ontario
Morning of May 5, 2019.
Photographed with a Canon 6D (15 sec exposure, ISO 3200) and Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 lens
Eta Aquariid meteor near the Andromeda galaxy. Westmeath Lookout, Whitewater Region, Ontario
Morning of May 5, 2019.
Photographed with a Canon 6D (15 sec exposure, ISO 3200) and Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 lens
This bright sporadic meteor was captured only a few minutes before sunrise! Westmeath Lookout, Whitewater Region, Ontario
Morning of May 5, 2019.
Photographed with a Canon 6D (15 sec exposure, ISO 3200) and Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 lens