The April Lyrids

Every April, the night sky lights up with a dazzling display of shooting stars during the Lyrid meteor shower. The Lyrids get their name because they seem to radiate from the constellation Lyra, which contains the bright star Vega. The Lyrids are one of the oldest recorded meteor showers, with observations dating back to at least 687 BCE by Chinese astronomers. Ancient Chinese texts described the shower as “falling stars like rain,” giving us a glimpse of how spectacular this event has been for centuries.

What is a Meteor Shower?

When you see a shooting star streak across the night sky, you’re actually watching a small piece of space debris burn up as it enters Earth’s atmosphere. These tiny bits of rock or dust, often no larger than a grain of sand, come from the tails of comets or fragments of asteroids. As Earth travels through space, it crosses paths with these debris trails, giving us a meteor shower. The point where the meteors appear to come from is called the radiant, which is why the Lyrids seem to come from Lyra.

Meteor showers have active windows, which means they last for several days as Earth moves through the debris. The best time to watch is usually during the peak, when the most meteors are visible. Occasionally, the Lyrids can produce outbursts where the number of meteors per hour can surge to over 100, making for an unforgettable show.

Comet Thatcher (C/1861 G1)

The Lyrids are the result of Earth passing through the debris left behind by Comet Thatcher (C/1861 G1). This comet was discovered by A.E. Thatcher in 1861 and follows a long, elliptical orbit around the Sun that takes about 415 years to complete. As Comet Thatcher travels through space, it leaves behind a trail of dust and debris. Every April, Earth crosses this trail, causing the Lyrid meteor shower. Although the comet itself is far away, its legacy lights up our skies year after year.

The 2025 Lyrids

In 2025, the Lyrid meteor shower will be active from April 16 to April 25, with the peak expected on the night of April 21 into the early morning hours of April 22. The radiant will be located near the bright star Vega in the constellation Lyra, which will be high in the eastern sky after midnight. For the best viewing, find a dark location away from city lights and let your eyes adjust to the darkness for about 20 minutes. It’s actually better to view the Lyrids away from their radiant: They will appear longer and more spectacular from this perspective. If you do look directly at the radiant, you will find that the meteors will be short – this is an effect of perspective called foreshortening. This year, a waning crescent moon will be in the sky, but its light should not interfere too much with meteor visibility. However, we recommend watching before the moon rises to increase your chances of seeing more meteors. As always, we recommend finding the darkest place you can to view the shower. For more suggestions on places to view the night sky, check our our article on Where to Explore the 2025 Denver Night Skies.

Keep Looking Up!

The Lyrid meteor shower is a wonderful reminder that our night skies are full of wonders. Whether you see just a few meteors or catch a brilliant fireball, watching the Lyrids can be a magical experience. So grab a blanket, head outside, and enjoy the show.

Clear skies and happy falling stargazing!