Meteor Showers in March – June 2025
Six meteor showers are active from March Equinox to June Solstice, including the renowned Lyrids and prolific Eta Aquariids. Use the Sky Tonight calendar to see which meteor showers peak each month, see their radiant position in your region, and set notifications not to miss their peak dates. Also, read this guide to learn more about the upcoming meteor showers.
Contents
- Meteor shower peaks in March
- Meteor shower peaks in April
- Meteor shower peaks in May
- Meteor shower peaks in June
- Tips on viewing meteor showers
- March-June meteor showers: bottom line
Meteor shower peaks in March
March 14: γ-Normids
- Designation: 118 GNO
- ZHR: 6
- Moon illumination: 100%
- 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. Its parent body is also unknown. An IMO analysis from 1999 to 2007 showed that this meteor shower averages about 6 meteors per hour during the peak and about 3 meteors per hour during the rest of its activity period.
Visibility forecast
In 2025, the peak of the Gamma Normids will coincide with the Full Moon, whose bright light will likely obscure most of the meteors. Try to block the Moon’s light by standing near a tree, hill, or building.
Meteor shower peaks in April
April 22: April Lyrids
- Designation: 006 LYR
- ZHR: 18
- Moon illumination: 37%
- 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 sometimes the shower intensifies, resulting in a meteor outburst with an activity rate of up to 100 meteors per hour (as seen in 1982 or 1985). 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 rather good this year. The peak is on April 22, one day after the Last Quarter Moon, so the moonlight won’t interfere much with the observations. The April Lyrids are best observed from the Northern Hemisphere, but can also be seen from the southern sites at a lower rate. 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 23: π-Puppids
- Designation: 137 PPU
- ZHR: variable
- Moon illumination: 26%
- 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
This year, the Last Quarter Moon on April 21 won't interfere with viewing during the first half of the night. It's best to watch for the Pi Puppids before midnight because their radiant in the sky is low and sets early (at about 1:00 a.m. local time).
Meteor shower peaks in May
May 6: η-Aquariids
- Designation: 031 ETA
- ZHR: 50
- Moon illumination: 72%
- 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
With an hourly rate of about 50 meteors during the peak, the Eta Aquariids are one of the best meteor showers of the year. In 2025, the Eta Aquariids will peak two days after the First Quarter Moon. This makes for less than ideal observing conditions, as the bright Moon might hinder your observations. To improve visibility, try to position yourself where a tree, hill, or building can block the Moon’s glare. The shower's radiant rises in the morning, not long before the moonset, and the meteors are visible just before dawn. Although the Eta Aquariids are best seen from the Southern Hemisphere, observers from some northern locations will also be able to see them.
May 10: η-Lyrids
- Designation: 145 ELY
- ZHR: 3
- Moon illumination: 97%
- 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. Because of their low hourly rate, the Eta Lyrids are often confused with sporadic meteors (random meteors not associated with any particular meteor shower).
Visibility forecast
In 2025, the Eta Lyrids’ peak is expected on May 10, two days before the Full Moon, so the observing conditions for this meteor shower will be unfavorable. To maximize your chances of spotting meteors, try to find a viewing spot where a tree, hill, or building can help block the Moon’s bright light.
Meteor shower peaks in June
June 7: Daytime Arietids
- Designation: 171 ARI
- ZHR: 30
- Moon illumination: 89%
- 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 2025, the Daytime Arietids start their activity on May 14 and reach their peak on June 7. Find out about other daytime meteor showers from the dedicated article.
Tips on viewing meteor showers
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.
March-June meteor showers: bottom line
Six meteor shower peaks occur in the period from March to June: γ-Normids, April Lyrids, π-Puppids, η-Aquariids, η-Lyrids, Daytime Arietids. Check when a meteor shower’s 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 of the year, and don’t miss your best chance to see the shooting stars.
