2025 Celestial Events

Occurring as Earth passes through the trail of debris left by Comet Thatcher, the Lyrid meteor shower is expected to produce around 20 meteors per hour at its peak. The best time to view it will be during the night of April 21, just a few hours before dawn, although the predicted peak is set for 16:00 UTC on April 22.

Best spot (if skies are clear): Dark-sky areas away from city lights across Canada.

Coming from the debris of Comet Halley, The Eta Aquarids can produce up to 60 meteors per hour. And in 2025, this peak is expected during the night of May 3rd-4th.

Best spot: Southern regions of Canada with clear views of the eastern horizon. They should be visible elsewhere in the country after midnight, once the moon has set.

Each year, the Perseids — so-called because they appear to come around the constellation Perseus, are among the most anticipated annual meteor showers, producing up to 100 meteors per hour. This year though, moonlight will interfere, allowing only the brightest meteors to be seen at peak period. ​

Best spot: If skies are clear, head to an area away from polluting urban lights, where the night is darkest, between midnight and dawn.

As we bid farewell to summer, here come the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights): 2025 will be a particularly great year to admire the Northern Lights. Usually, the best time to watch them is from late September to March. This year, however, solar activity is expected to be high during that period, not only increasing the chances of auroral displays but also extending the viewing window!

Best spot: Canada is among the best destinations for Northern Lights viewing – Churchill (Manitoba), Whitehorse, Dawson City (Yukon) and Yellowknife (Northwest Territories) to name a few.

October 22–23, 2025: Orionid Meteor Shower Peak

2025 should be a good year to observe the Orionids, known for their brightness and speed, and so-called because they radiate to the north of constellation Orion’s bright star Betelgeuse. This annual Meteor Shower is considered one of the most beautiful because the fast meteors can leave glowing trains that last for seconds.

Best spot: Open areas with clear views of the southeastern sky, away from light pollution and after midnight. Give your eyes 30 minutes to get accustomed to the dark and you will see them.