How to See the Lyrid Meteor Shower Over Minnesota

Our cloudy, rainy weather the past few nights hasn't been the best, but if you're still looking to catch this meteor shower in Minnesota, your best chance is still on the way.

Minnesotans, keep your eyes on the night skies—because the Lyrid meteor shower is making its dazzling return, and you still have several chances to check out this annual spectacle-- and there's no ticket required.

Living here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes is great, especially when Mother Nature puts on a fantastic show for us. Getting to enjoy all four seasons means we get to see the beauty of freshly-fallen snow (though hopefully not anymore this spring!), dazzling fall colors, and quiet summer nights at the lake.

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And, every once in a while, we get to enjoy a stellar show in the night sky. Like last May, when the Northern Lights (the aurora borealis, if you're being all scientific about it) made an incredible appearance across the Bold North. Here's a pic I snapped in our backyard in southeast Minnesota last spring:

The Northern Lights, visible in southeast Minnesota in May 2024 (Curt St John/Townsquare Media)

And now, the Lyrid meteor shower could make an appearance in the night sky over the North Star State. This USA Today story says the annual celestial shower has been going on since Thursday, April 17th, but there haven't been any big fireballs spotted just yet.

USA Today says that the Lyrid meteor shower isn't a new phenomenon; it's been around for a while:

The Lyrid meteor shower is the world's oldest known of its kind and reliably occurs every April as Earth passes through debris from a comet named Thatcher.

Space.com says this year's Lyrid meteor shower is predicted to peak in the early morning hours of April 22nd and 23rd. And while much of Minnesota has seen cloudy skies and showers overnight the past few nights, Tuesday night's forecast is clear for much of the state, meaning you might actually be able to see the Lyrids.

Canva

Time and Date says the best times to see the Lyrids are between midnight at 6 am early Wednesday morning, April 23rd. They'll cease being visible at all by Saturday, April 26th, this year. Here are some meteor shower viewing tips:

Find a secluded viewing spot, away from the city lights. Once at the venue, your eyes may take 15 to 20 minutes to get used to the dark.
Dress for the weather, and make sure you are comfortable, especially if you plan to stay out long. Bring a blanket or a comfortable chair with you—meteor watching can be a waiting game.
Once you have found your viewing spot, lie down on the ground and look at the sky. Meteor showers appear to originate from the horizon, but meteors can appear in any part of the sky.