Lyrid Meteor Shower to Light Up Singapore Skies on 22-23 April, With 10-20 Meteors Per Hour During Peak Viewing

By
Noreen Shazreen
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The annual Lyrid meteor shower, one of the oldest documented celestial events in human history, will grace Singapore’s night sky from 22 April to 23 April 2025.

The Science Centre Observatory Singapore (SCOB) has confirmed that the Lyrids will reach their peak over Singapore on the night of 22 April, continuing into the early morning hours of 23 April.

Viewers in Singapore can expect to see approximately 5 to 6 meteors per hour under dark sky conditions.

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However, the Time and Date website suggests more optimistic numbers, with up to 20 meteors potentially visible per hour.

Historical Significance

The Lyrid meteor shower boasts an impressive lineage, with observations dating back 2,700 years.

The first recorded sighting was documented by Chinese astronomers in 687 BC, making it one of the oldest known meteor showers, reported The Straits Times.

These celestial visitors originate from Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, which was discovered in 1861.

The comet has an orbital period of 422 years and is currently less than halfway through its journey around the sun since its discovery.

Viewing Tips for Singapore Residents

For optimal viewing experiences, SCOB recommends finding locations with minimal light pollution and unobstructed views of the northwestern sky.

“To maximise chances of seeing the Lyrids shower, watchers may look for more open areas with unblocked surroundings and lesser light pollution, such as nature parks, beaches, and reservoirs,” advised SCOB in response to queries.

No special equipment is needed to observe the meteor shower. The naked eye is sufficient for spotting these cosmic travellers.

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NASA suggests looking away from the radiant point (the constellation Lyra) rather than directly at it, as meteors will appear longer and more spectacular from this perspective.

The Lyrids in Singapore will appear as quick, short streaks of light across the night sky.

While they rarely leave long glowing dust trails, they occasionally produce bright flashes known as fireballs.

Characteristics of the Lyrids

The Lyrids are famous for their swift and bright meteors. Under exceptional circumstances, they can produce outbursts of up to 100 meteors per hour, though such displays are rare.

These meteors travel at approximately 49km per second as they enter Earth’s atmosphere.

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The shower gets its name from the constellation Lyra, which serves as the radiant point from which the meteors appear to originate.

More Celestial Events in 2025

Singapore skygazers can look forward to three more major meteor showers in 2025:

The Eta Aquarids will peak on the night of 5 May to 6 May. These meteors, produced by dust particles from Halley’s Comet, are known for their speed and can leave glowing “trains” that last for several seconds to minutes.

The southern hemisphere typically enjoys better viewing conditions for this shower, with approximately 60 meteors per hour visible during peak activity.

The Perseids, widely considered the best meteor shower of the year, will reach their maximum between 12 August and 13 August. These meteors create long “wakes” of light and colour, with 50 to 100 meteors potentially visible per hour during peak activity.

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Finally, the Geminids will illuminate December skies, peaking between 13 December and 14 December.

This reliable annual meteor shower can produce up to 120 meteors per hour under ideal conditions, with the distinctive feature of appearing yellow in colour.

For those interested in regular stargazing activities, the Science Centre’s observatory offers programs on select Friday evenings each month.

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Noreen Shazreen
Email: [email protected]