Photo: Prokhor Minin on Unsplash.com

By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - April 17, 2025

Two astronomical events in the coming weeks coincide with an international effort to raise awareness about light pollution. The annual Lyrid and Eta Aquariids meteor showers will be active from late April into May 2025, coinciding with International Dark Sky Week, which typically occurs in April and aims to highlight the importance of dark skies for astronomy, wildlife, and human health. This year, International Dark Sky Week will take place from April 21 through April 28. 

The importance of dark skies has been recognized locally and statewide. In 2023, the Cook County Commissioners recognized Dark Sky Week with a proclamation. In 2024, the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and the State of Minnesota announced two separate proclamations. 

Within northern Minnesota, two significant locations have received designations for their dark sky conditions. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) was designated an International Dark Sky Sanctuary in 2020, and Voyageurs National Park was named a Dark Sky Park around the same time. Additionally, an annual Dark Sky Festival is held in Cook County each December, hosted by Visit Cook County. It features events to celebrate the night sky and raise awareness around light pollution. 

But community members don't have to wait to celebrate and appreciate the night sky. Two separate astronomical events, the Lyrids and Eta Aquariids meteor showers, will take place in late April and early May, perfect for viewing under the dark skies in the area. 

(Learn more about ways to reduce light pollution at night here.)

Lyrids Meteor Shower

The Lyrids meteor shower is expected to be observable from approximately April 16 to April 25, 2025, with peak activity likely around April 21-22. A waning crescent moon will rise a few hours after midnight on April 22, so the best viewing time is late on April 21. 

According to NASA, 10 to 20 meteors per hour are possible under dark sky conditions. 

Eta Aquariids Meteor Shower 

Active from approximately April 19th to May 28th, 2025, the Eta Aquariids meteor shower, linked to Halley's Comet, is expected to peak around May 5th-6th. While the best viewing is closer to the equator, those in the Northern Hemisphere have the opportunity to see 10 to 30 meteors per hour in the pre-dawn hours of May 5. Around this peak time, a quarter moon will set around midnight. 

For more information about Dark Sky Week in Cook County, visit Visit Cook County here. 

To learn more about the International Dark Sky Association, click here.