Best Times to See Meteor Showers Over Indiana & Kentucky in 2025

If you have ever spotted a shooting star, you know just how exciting it can be. And while it may seem like a rare occurrence, it happens more frequently than you might think. If you want to know the best times to look up the sky over Indiana and Kentucky, keep reading.

What Are Meteors and Why Do We See Them?

Meteors, often called shooting stars, can be seen with the naked eye as they blaze through the night sky. Meteors, according to NASA, are really nothing more than rocks flying through space. As they move through the Earth's atmosphere, it creates friction which generates heat. The streak you see as a meteor shoots across the night sky is really just the glow of the air as the rock passes through. When there are a lot of these rocks moving through the sky all at once, it's called a meteor shower.

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Are Meteors Dangerous? Here’s What NASA Says

Despite the idea of space rocks hurling toward Earth sounding a little scary, NASA says meteoroids are generally small and burn up quickly. There is very little threat of one actually striking the planet.

How to Get the Best Meteor Viewing Experience

When it comes to watching a meteor shower, you don't typically need any additional gear or lenses to view most of them. However, it is best to find someplace away from city lights. In fact, the darker your viewing area, the better your chances of seeing meteors. Expect it to take nearly 20 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark fully, but once they do, you will be able to see the night sky more clearly.

Avoid Light Pollution for Better Meteor Viewing

You also will want to avoid other light sources like phones or flashlights. Using these resets your vision, and it will take some time for them to adjust again to the dark.

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

Meteor Showers Happen All Year—Not Just in November

Meteor showers occur throughout the year, with two of the most well-known, the Geminids and Leonids meteor showers, taking place annually beginning around mid-November. Fortunately, we don't have to wait until November to see shooting stars.

Stay Safe and Respect Property While Stargazing

If you won't be viewing the meteor showers from your backyard, make a plan for a safe viewing place. You especially don't want to find yourself accidentally trespassing while trying to get a good view of the night sky. Also, bug spray might be a good idea before you head outside.

Your 2025 Meteor Shower Calendar

So, when should you plan to look up at the night sky to see a meteor shower? These are the most well-known, regularly occurring meteor showers to watch in 2025, according to American Meteor Society:

Lyrid Meteor Shower: April 15 - 29; Peak April 21-22
ETA Aquarid Meteor Shower: April 15 - May 27; Peak May 5-6
Delta Aquarid Meteor Shower: July 18 - August 21; Peak July 29-30
Perseids Meteor Shower: July 14 - September 1; Peak August 12-13
Orionids Meteor Shower: September 26 - November 22; Peak October 22-23
N Taurids Meteor Shower: October 13 - December 1; Peak November 8-9
Leonids Meteor Shower: November 3 - December 2; Peak November 16-17
Geminids Meteor Shower: November 19 - December 24; Peak December 13-14
Ursids Meteor Shower: December 13 - 24; Peak December 21-22

Best Meteor Showers to Watch in 2025

While spotting a meteor during any of these times is possible, for the most jaw-dropping displays, look up during the Perseids, which average about 90 meteors per hour, and the Geminids, which produce about 120 meteors per hour.

LOOK: 31 breathtaking images from NASA's public library

In 2017, NASA opened the digital doors to its image and video library website, allowing the public to access more than 140,000 images, videos, and audio files. The collection provides unprecedented views of space. Stacker reviewed the collection to select 31 of the most breathtaking images, including the first from the James Webb Space Telescope. Keep reading to see these stunning images, curated with further information about the captured scenes.

Gallery Credit: Deborah Brosseau