The peak of the Lyrid meteor shower in spring 2025: when and how to observe

At the end of April, Russians will be able to observe the Lyrida meteor shower. This is the first spring starfall that will be visible to the naked eye in different parts of the country. Weather conditions promise to be favorable, so you can see up to 18 meteors per hour. Izvestia reports on when and where it is best to observe the April Lyrides in 2025.

The Lyrid meteor shower in 2025 — about the phenomenon

The history of Lyrid observation dates back more than 2.5 thousand years. This is one of the oldest meteor showers, the very first mention of which appeared in China and dates back to 687 BC.

The stream was formed by comet C/1861 G1 "Thatcher", named after the amateur astronomer Albert Thatcher. Every year in April, the Earth passes through a plume of dust left by a comet. As a result, bright flashes of light appear in the sky — meteors that move at a speed of about 48 km/ h and burn up in the Earth's atmosphere at an altitude of about 100-120 km.

The Lyrid radiant, or the area of the firmament from which meteors fly, is located in the constellation Lyra in the Northern hemisphere of the sky. This constellation got its name for its resemblance to an ancient Greek musical instrument, and subsequently gave its name to the meteor shower.

There are usually up to 20 meteors per hour in the sky. But in the past, astronomers recorded up to 100 flashes. The last time such a phenomenon occurred was in 1985. The color of the Lyrid is predominantly white. Meteors of light blue and other shades are less common.

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When and where to watch Lyrids in April 2025

Each year, the period of activity and the intensity of the flow are different. In 2025, the Lyrids are available for observation from April 16 to April 25. The flow will reach its peak from Tuesday evening, April 22, to Wednesday morning, April 23. Bright flashes can also be observed for several more nights — the day before and after the designated date.

According to the Moscow Planetarium, up to 18 meteors per hour are expected. The April Lyrid meteors will be visible from many locations around the world. However, it is best to observe them in the Northern Hemisphere when the weather is clear after sunset.

In Russia, the starfall will be clearly visible in the Caucasus, Karelia, Baikal, Altai and many other regions. In Moscow and other large cities, much depends on the chosen terrain and lighting. Astronomers advise choosing dark outdoor areas, such as city parks, and in the capital, an observation deck on Vorobyovy Gory.

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The Lyrida meteor shower on April 22 — conditions for observation

In April, the Lyrid radiant will be high above the horizon, which creates good conditions for observation. In addition, the meteor shower peaks during the waning moon period, and the Earth's satellite will not prevent you from enjoying the astronomical event.

No special devices will be required, as the Lyrids will be visible to the naked eye. Finding the meteor radiant is quite simple. It is located slightly to the right of the star Vega, one of the brightest in the night sky and the brightest in the constellation Lyra.

To accurately determine the location, it is better to use a special application. For example, Sky Tonight or Star Walk 2. In the search, you need to enter the name "April Lyrids" and click on the scope icon next to the search result. At the same time, it is extremely important to specify the word "April", since there are also June Lyrids, which are usually active from the 10th to the 21st of the summer month.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the features of the Leonida meteor shower.