Meteor Shower Calendar: March - June 2024

~5 min

Six meteor showers reach their peaks from March to June 2024. Find out which meteor shower peaks tonight and what time it’s visible in the sky. Don’t miss a shooting star this month!

Contents

Meteor shower peaks in March

March 14: γ-Normids

  • Designation: 118 GNO
  • ZHR: 6
  • Moon illumination: 24%
  • 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 2024, the peak rate of meteors is expected around March 14, when the Moon will be only 4.8 days old and won't spoil the view much with its light. At local midnight, the radiant will be above the horizon for locations in the Southern Hemisphere. The Moon will already be below the horizon by then.

Meteor shower peaks in April

April 22: April Lyrids

  • Designation: 006 LYR
  • ZHR: 18
  • Moon illumination: 96%
  • 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 unfavorable this year. The peak is on April 22, two days before the Full Moon, so the moonlight will be too bright to view the meteors. 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 23: π-Puppids

  • Designation: 137 PPU
  • ZHR: variable
  • Moon illumination: 99%
  • 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 23, when the Moon will be almost full. So, this year, the chance to observe π-Puppids will be minimal.

Meteor shower peaks in May

May 5: η-Aquariids

  • Designation: 031 ETA
  • ZHR: 50
  • Moon illumination: 11%
  • 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 2024, the η-Aquariids (Eta Aquariids) will peak a few days before the New Moon, so observing conditions will be good this year. The shower's radiant rises in the morning, 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. Learn more about the Eta Aquariid meteor shower in the dedicated article. And don't miss it — with an hourly rate of about 50 meteors during the peak, this is one of the best meteor showers of the year!

May 10: η-Lyrids

  • Designation: 145 ELY
  • ZHR: 3
  • Moon illumination: 8%
  • Active: May 5 - 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 2024, 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. The New Moon on May 8 offers good observation conditions around the peak. However, because of their low hourly rate, the Eta Lyrids are often confused with sporadic meteors (random meteors not associated with any particular meteor shower).

Meteor shower peaks in June

June 7: Daytime Arietids

  • Designation: 171 ARI
  • ZHR: 30
  • Moon illumination: 1%
  • 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 2024, 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.

Meteor Showers Quiz
Think you’re a meteor mastermind? Dive into our quiz to see if you’re truly starry-eyed or just spaced out. 🌠 👀 Bonus: snag some pro tips to actually catch those elusive shooting stars!
Take the quiz!
Meteor Showers: All You Need to Know
Check this infographic to learn interesting facts about meteor showers. Get tips on how to observe and photograph "shooting stars".
See Infographic

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 in 2024, and don’t miss your best chance to see the shooting stars.

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