Rare Chi Cygnid Meteor Shower Expected To Peak September 13-15

The Chi Cygnid meteor shower, a rare celestial event occurring every five years, is set to peak between September 13 and 15, 2025, offering skywatchers a unique opportunity to witness slow-moving meteors that are easier to spot. Discovered by SETI Institute and NASA Ames astronomer Peter Jenniskens in 2015, this meteor shower originates near the star Chi Cygni in the constellation Cygnus, which will be high in the early evening sky, making the event accessible for casual observers and families. Although the meteor rates are modest compared to major annual showers like the Perseids, the slow speed and infrequent occurrence—expected next only in 2030—make sightings particularly special. While some disagreement exists on the exact peak date, with the American Meteor Society suggesting September 16, there is consensus that the best viewing window is mid-September evenings. Observers are advised to find dark locations away from city lights and look toward Cygnus to identify Chi Cygnid meteors by tracing their paths backward. This year’s expected increased activity follows similar upticks in 2010, 2015, and 2020, likely influenced by meteoroids trapped in resonance with Jupiter.