Every April, the Lilid Meteor Shower returns to our sky, offering the chance to get a glimpse of the fireballs across the sky.
Though not the most prolific meteor exhibit of the year, Lilid is a welcome treat for Stargazer.
All you need to know about Lilid in 2025 is when to look up, what to expect, how to get the best views and more.
When is Lyrid Meteor Shower 2025?
Lilid will be active from April 15th to 25th, 2025, and peak activity is expected on the evening of April 22nd early on April 23rd.
Your best bet is to still go out before dawn on April 23rd. The radiation point (the part of the sky where the meteor appears to come from) is the best.
Where to see Lilid
Lilids are emitted from the constellation Lyra, located near the bright star Vega, one of the easiest stars in the Northern Hemisphere.
Look east or northeast after midnight and let your eyes clean the sky. Meteors may appear in any direction rather than near meteors.
No telescopes or binoculars are required. In fact, it’s better to see the meteor shower with the naked eye and be able to take in as many sky as possible.
read more:
- Can you hear the meteor?
- Meteors, Asteroids, Comets: What’s the difference?
- How can you tell that a metstone comes from a particular planet?
How many meteors are there?
Under a dark moonless sky, Lilids usually produce 10-15 meteors per hour, but sudden bursts can produce up to 100.
Lilid is known for being quick and sometimes bright, with strange fireballs thrown in properly.
The month around this time will pass the third quarter, so if it rises it will be very bright. Thankfully, this won’t last until around 4am (US and UK). This means you’ll get unobstructed meteor monitoring for hours.
What causes the Lyrid Meteor Shower?
The Lyrid meteor is caused by the Earth passing through the traces of debris left by Comet Thatcher. It finally reached the approach closest to the sun in 1861, so it takes a long time to wait until our path comes again (c. 2276).
When comet dust and rock fragments collide at high speed in the atmosphere (approximately 50 km/s), they burn out and create stripes of light seen from the ground.
Lilid is actually one of the oldest recorded meteor showers. Chinese astronomers observed them over two to six hundred years ago.
Tips for viewing lyrids
Catching a meteor shower is not complicated, but some wise strategies can make all the difference.
- Find a dark place It’s quite far from the city lights – less light pollution, the better.
- Give me time to adjust my eyes In the darkness. It can take 20-30 minutes to see the sky at its best.
- Wear warm clothesEven in spring. The temperature in the early morning can be chilly.
- Lie down It allows you to comfortably scan the sky on a blanket or reclining chair.
- be patient – Meteors have bursts and may take some time to catch good ones.
If you’re having trouble finding the sky you need, Technology helps. “Star Map apps like Sky Guide, Star Walk 2, and Stellarium will help you find Sky Vega and Lyra using your phone.” Dr. Sham Balajia researcher in space particle physics and cosmology at King’s College London.
“Many apps use augmented reality, so just point your phone in the sky and you’ll see where to look.”
Is this the best meteor shower of the year?
Not at all – that title is usually sent to Persade in August or Geminid in December.
However, Lilid is the first decent meteor shower for Northern Hemisphere observers, and could be surprisingly dramatic.
Additionally, for the UK people, they arrive during school holidays. So, if the sky is clear, it’s the perfect excuse to make a late family stargaze.
read more:
- Can you hear the meteor?
- Meteors, Asteroids, Comets: What’s the difference?
- How can you tell that a metstone comes from a particular planet?
Source: www.sciencefocus.com
