Lyrid Meteor Shower 2025 Visibility Map: Where are the best places to see it from the US?

The Lyrids are active from April 14 to 30 each year, with a peak on April 21-22. During the peak, observers can see around 18 meteors per hour under perfect viewing conditions. Flying at a speed of 49 kilometers per second, Lyrid meteors often leave persistent dust trails and can produce bright fireballs

According to the International Meteor Organization, the peak is expected to occur on April 22, 2025, at 13:30 GMT ( to convert this time to your local time zone). The calculations are based on historical data collected by the IMO from 1988 to 2000. However, the exact timing can vary from year to year: recent observations have shown that peak activity can occur between 10:30 and 18:00 GMT.

What are the Lyrids?

Every year, in late April, Earth es through a stream of debris from the ancient comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, which has caused the Lyrid meteor shower on our planet for more than 2,700 years.

According to NASA, the tiny clumps of dust hit the atmosphere at 177,000 kilometers per hour, disintegrating in a burst of meteors; this is how annually, around 15 to 20 Lyrids are produced per hour.

How to locate the meteor shower?

The radiant of the Lyrids, the point from which the meteors appear to come, is located in the constellation Lyra. It becomes visible before midnight and reaches its highest point in the sky at dawn. The higher the radiant is in the sky, the more meteors you are likely to see. Use the Sky Tonight app to help you locate it effortlessly.

To watch the Lyrid meteor shower in the United States, look for a dark, clear location, away from the light pollution of cities. The radiant, or apparent point of origin of the meteors, will be in the constellation Lyra, near the star Vega, in the northeastern horizon area.

Under ideal conditions, without the Moon, expect around 18 Lyrid meteors per hour. They can occasionally even burst with up to 100 meteors per hour, although for 2025, there are no predictions about increased activity.

Tips for observing the Lyrids from the USA

• Choose a dark location: The best location to watch the meteor shower is in a dark place away from city lights
• Look to the northeast: The radiant of the Lyrids is located in the constellation Lyra, near the star Vega, in the northeastern horizon
• Look for a clear night: A clear night without clouds is essential for good observation
• Do not look directly at the radiant: While it is useful to know where it is, do not look directly at the radiant, as meteors can appear anywhere in the sky
• Be patient: Meteors can appear at any time, so don't worry if you don't see any immediately
• No special equipment is needed: You don't need a telescope or binoculars to see the meteor shower.

Recommended places to watch the Lyrids in the USA

National Parks

Many national parks offer dark, clear areas for stargazing.

Rural areas

Any place away from city lights, such as a field or a hill, can be a good place to watch the Lyrids.

that the Lyrids are more visible in the northern hemisphere, so the United States will have a great opportunity to observe this phenomenon