The Lyrid meteor shower peaks this week with up to 18 shooting stars per hour visible before dawn on April 22, offering one of the year’s best skywatching opportunities.
According to the American Meteor Society, the shower is active from April 16 to 25, reaching its maximum around 4 p.m. EDT on April 22. For observers in the United States, the optimal viewing window is in the hours before sunrise that day, when the radiant point near the star Vega in the constellation Lyra is highest in the sky.
A 27%-lit waxing moon will set around 2 a.m. Local time, leaving dark skies ideal for spotting meteors. Under clear, dark conditions away from city lights, viewers may see up to 18 meteors per hour during the peak.
The Lyrids occur annually as Earth passes through debris left by comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, a source of the shower for over 2,000 years. Meteors appear to radiate from Lyra, but the brightest and longest trails are visible about 40 degrees away from that point — roughly the width of four clenched fists held at arm’s length.
To maximize visibility, experts recommend allowing 20–30 minutes for eyes to adjust to darkness, using red-light flashlights to preserve night vision, and avoiding binoculars or telescopes, which limit the field of view. Lying back on a blanket or reclining chair provides the widest sky view.
In addition to the meteor shower, comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS), discovered last year, may be visible in the eastern sky before sunrise during April. However, its proximity to the Sun could craft it hard to observe without optical aid.
Lucas Snyder of the University of Arizona’s Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium noted that while the Lyrids are an annual event, viewing quality varies with moon phase and weather. “This year should be pretty good,” he said, emphasizing that dark, remote locations like deserts or mountains offer the best chances to see fainter meteors.
The shower will produce a decent number of meteors on the nights surrounding the peak, so those who miss the early morning of April 22 still have opportunities to observe activity.
What time should I glance for the Lyrid meteors?
The best time to view the Lyrid meteor shower is in the hours before sunrise on April 22, when the radiant is highest and skies are darkest after the moon sets around 2 a.m.
Can I see the Lyrids from a city?
While some meteors may be visible from urban areas, light pollution significantly reduces visibility; dark, remote locations such as mountains or deserts provide the best viewing conditions.
