The Lyrids are among the oldest-known meteor showers:
Lyrid meteor shower peaks this week, best chance for seeing ‘fireballs’
MLive - April 20, 2025
https://www.mlive.com/news/2025/04/lyrid-meteor-shower-peaks-this-week-best-chance-for-seeing-fireballs.html
Spring’s early sky show, the Lyrid meteor shower, is known for its bright and fast-moving meteors. This sky show is set to peak this week. The official peak date is Tuesday, April 22. This means Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights will likely offer the best meteor numbers.
“The Lyrids are known for their fast and bright meteors,” NASA said on its website detailing this meteor shower: https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/meteors-meteorites/lyrids/
“Though not as fast or as plentiful as the famous Perseids in August, Lyrids can surprise watchers with as many as 100 meteors seen per hour.”
If you see a bright flash during the Lyrids, you’ve witnessed what sky watchers call a “fireball.”
This meteor shower is set to run through April 26, so there will still be a few chances to see them if you miss the peak nights.
The Lyrids are among the oldest-known meteor showers.
The source of the Lyrid meteor shower is space debris burning up in our atmosphere, leftover from the Comet Thatcher, which was discovered in 1861. But the records on the meteor shower go back much further. The first recorded sighting? It was in 687 BC in China.
Plan your viewing time: Stepping out into your backyard for a minute or two won’t give you the best results. It takes about a half-hour for your eyes to acclimate to the night sky for optimum viewing. So find a comfy spot, wear a hat and coat, and be patient.
NASA offers these tips: “Find an area well away from city lights or street lights. Come prepared with a sleeping bag, blanket, or lawn chair. Lie flat on your back with your feet facing east and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible. After about 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors. Be patient – the show will last until dawn, so you have plenty of time to catch a glimpse."
