Meteor Shower Calendar: March - June 2023
Six meteor showers are reaching their peaks from March to June 2023. Read on to learn when it’s best to observe them in the sky.
Contents
- Meteor shower peaks in March
- Meteor shower peaks in April
- Meteor shower peaks in May
- Meteor shower peaks in June
- Bottom line
Getting ready to catch the shooting stars? Learn all you need to know about meteor showers from our infographic and check the basic tips for meteor hunters. To solidify your knowledge, take our quiz.
Also, use the Sky Tonight app to learn when and where to observe a meteor shower. Tap the calendar icon at the bottom of the screen and switch to the Meteors tab. You’ll see which meteor showers are active in the selected month (the peak dates are marked with dots). Choose a meteor shower and tap the blue target icon opposite its name. The app will show where the radiant will be at 12:00 a.m. local time. You can set the desired time using the Time Machine panel at the top of the screen. Then, point your device up and follow the white arrow to see where the radiant will be in the real night sky.
Meteor shower peaks in March
March 14: γ-Normids
- Designation: 118 GNO
- ZHR: 6
- Moon illumination: 49%
- Active: February 25 - March 28
- Radiant location: constellation Norma
- Visible from: Southern Hemisphere
- Description: The Gamma Normids (γ-Normids) is a weak meteor stream with an uncertain activity period. It is usually active from February 25 to March 28.
- Visibility forecast: The peak rate of meteors in 2023 is expected around March 14. The half-lit Moon might interfere with the observations, so it’s best to observe the meteor shower until moonrise. By the local midnight, the radiant will be above the horizon for the Southern Hemisphere locations. Note that the Moon will gradually lose brightness on the following nights when the shower is still active, so you can see some meteors after the peak night.
Meteor shower peaks in April
April 23: April Lyrids
- Designation: 006 LYR
- ZHR: 18
- Moon illumination: 12%
- Active: April 14 - 30
- Radiant location: constellation Lyra
- Visible from: Northern Hemisphere
- Description: The April Lyrids is one of the long-known meteor showers that has been observed and reported annually since 687 BC. The April Lyrids’ meteors are pieces of debris from the periodic Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher. The maximum number of meteors typically varies from 5 to 20 per hour, but once in 60 years, the shower intensifies, resulting in an April Lyrid meteor outburst with an activity rate of up to 90 meteors per hour (as seen in 1982 and 1922). Next time it will happen in 2042 – hopefully, we’ll still be keeping you updated on the event via our site or Sky Tonight app.
- Visibility forecast: Observing conditions for the April Lyrids are favorable this year. The peak is on April 23, three days after the New Moon, so the sky will be dark on the peak night. The April Lyrids are best observed from the Northern Hemisphere, but can also be seen from the southern sites. In the northern locations, the radiant will appear above the horizon after 10:30 p.m. local time. Observers from the southern latitudes will have to wait until midnight.
April 24: π-Puppids
- Designation: 137 PPU
- ZHR: variable
- Moon illumination: 21%
- Active: April 15 - 28
- Radiant location: constellation Puppis
- Visible from: Southern Hemisphere
- Description: Discovered in 1972, the Pi-Puppids (π-Puppids), associated with the comet 26P/Grigg-Skjellerup, have shown notable activity in 1977 and 1982, with around 40 meteors per hour detected. Also, in 1983, an activity rate of approximately 13 meteors per hour was reported. Records of 2018 and 2019 report low, but still detectable, rates.
- Visibility forecast: The peak of Pi-Puppids is expected on April 24, and the first half of the night offers quite favorable conditions: the thin lunar crescent won’t interfere with the observation. However, there are no predictions about the meteor shower’s activity in 2023.
Meteor shower peaks in May
May 6: η-Aquariids
- Designation: 031 ETA
- ZHR: 50
- Moon illumination: 99%
- Active: April 19 - May 28
- Radiant location: constellation Aquarius
- Visible from: Southern Hemisphere
- Description: The parent comet of the Eta-Aquariids (η-Aquariids) is 1P/Halley, one of the most famous comets. The pieces of space debris shed by the comet hundreds of years ago become the Eta Aquariids in May and the Orionids in October.
- Visibility forecast: In 2023, the Eta-Aquariid meteor shower will reach its peak on May 6. Unfortunately, the Full Moon, which occurs on the same night, will likely wash out the meteors. However, observers from the tropics and Southern Hemisphere are advised to watch the Eta-Aquariids anyway, as enhanced activity is expected: the shower might produce around 120 meteors per hour, which is twice the usual.
May 10: η-Lyrids
- Designation: 145 ELY
- ZHR: 3
- Moon illumination: 77%
- Active: May 3 - 14
- Radiant location: constellation Lyra
- Visible from: Northern Hemisphere
- Description: The Eta-Lyrid (η-Lyrids) meteor shower is relatively weak but interesting to astronomers because of its possible relation to Comet C/1983 H1 IRAS-Araki-Alcock. The comet was last seen in 1983 and passed the Earth at a distance of 5,000,000 km, which is the closest a comet has approached in the last 200 years.
- Visibility forecast: In 2023, the Eta-Lyrids’ peak is expected on May 10. The radiant area is favorably on view all night for the observers from the Northern Hemisphere. However, the peak occurs just a few days after the Full Moon, so you might see no meteors at all.
Meteor shower peaks in June
June 7: Daytime Arietids
- Designation: 171 ARI
- ZHR: 30
- Moon illumination: 88%
- Active: May 14 - June 24
- Radiant location: constellation Aries
- Visible from: Southern Hemisphere
- Description: Daytime Arietids are the strongest daytime meteor shower of the year. The proposed parent bodies of the stream include comets 96P/Machholz and P/1999 J6.
- Visibility forecast: the Daytime Arietids are rather hard to observe because their radiant is located only about 30° west of the Sun. However, their meteors might still be seen shortly before dawn. In 2023, the Daytime Arietids start their activity on May 14 and reach their peak on June 7. Note that the bright Moon can obstruct the observations.
Bottom line
Six meteor shower peaks occur in the period from March to June. The April Lyrids are the most promising, as they are regular and reach their peak three days after the New Moon, getting the darkest skies. Also, the η-Aquariids might surprise observers from the Southern Hemisphere with unusual activity; however, the Moon will likely spoil the view. Check when the radiant is the highest in the sky using the Sky Tonight app, and go catch shooting stars! Also, see our article about the most spectacular meteor showers in 2023, and don’t miss your best chance to see the shooting stars.
