Major meteor showers visible throughout 2025. All times are approximate and viewing conditions depend on light pollution, weather, and moon phase.
Moon Phase: First Quarter (moderate viewing)
Best Visibility: Both hemispheres
The Lyrids are one of the oldest recorded meteor showers, with observations dating back 2,700 years.
Moon Phase: First Quarter (moderate viewing)
Best Visibility: Southern Hemisphere (best)
Created by debris from Halley's Comet, these meteors are fast and often leave glowing trails.
Moon Phase: Waning Crescent (good viewing)
Best Visibility: Northern Hemisphere
One of the most popular meteor showers, viewing conditions vary by year based on moon phase.
Moon Phase: First Quarter (moderate viewing)
Best Visibility: Both hemispheres
Another shower created by Halley's Comet debris, known for their speed and brightness.
Moon Phase: Waning Crescent (good viewing)
Best Visibility: Both hemispheres
The best shower of most years with the highest rates. Unusual for being caused by an asteroid rather than a comet.
Moon Phase: Waxing Crescent (good viewing)
Best Visibility: Northern Hemisphere
A minor shower that closes out the year, best viewed from dark locations away from city lights.
Moon Phase: Waxing Gibbous (moderate viewing)
Best Visibility: Northern Hemisphere
The year kicks off with the Quadrantids, known for their brief but intense peak lasting only about 4 hours.
Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through debris trails left by comets or asteroids. The debris burns up in our atmosphere, creating the streaks of light we see as "shooting stars."
Data Sources: Information compiled from NASA, American Meteor Society, and astronomical observations for 2025.