Lyrid Meteor Shower to Peak on April 22, 2025: Viewing Guide

The Lyrid meteor shower, one of the oldest known meteor displays, is expected to peak on April 22, 2025. The waning crescent moon, only 36 percent illuminated, will offer minimal interference for viewing. The International Meteor Organization predicts maximum activity around 9:30 a.m. ET, which favors observers in Hawaii. However, activity in recent years has been variable, with potential peaks ranging from 10:30 UT to 18:00 UT. Lyrid meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Lyra, near the bright star Vega. While not a particularly rich shower, averaging about one meteor every three to five minutes, Lyrids are known for their brightness and speed. Optimal viewing time is after midnight, when Vega is high in the sky by dawn. Historically, the Lyrids have produced unexpected surges in activity, with notable events recorded in 687 B.C. and 15 B.C. in China, and A.D. 1136 in Korea. The Lyrid meteors originate from Comet Thatcher, which was last observed in 1861. There is also a small possibility of observing a bright fireball meteor, which could potentially drop a meteorite. This is based on observed similarities between fireballs on April 23, 1962, and April 25, 1969, that may originate from the asteroid belt or an undiscovered short-period comet. These fireballs appeared to originate from the constellation Corvus.