Rare meteor shower 'Chi Cygnids' that happens once every five years is set to unfold in mid-September
A rare meteor shower, "Chi Cygnids," is set to grace the Earth. It stands apart from other meteor showers, as its peak is not an annual event and happens just once every five years, according to Daily Galaxy. The phenomenon was discovered in 2015 by NASA astronomer Peter Jenniskens. After looking at the records, experts determined that the showers have been occurring since at least 2010. It is set to happen again between the nights of September 13 and 14. Stargazers worldwide are ecstatic to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind shower.
Chi Cygnids Meteor Shower
Experts claimed that the Chi Cygnids meteor showers occur every year around mid-September, but only once in every five years does it exhibit noticeable "shooting stars," according to Forbes. Its peak was detected in 2010, 2015, and 2020, and is now possibly going to happen again in 2025. Researchers believe there will be an uptick in meteor rates this year, and have already found preliminary evidence supporting this theory.
The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute and NASA Ames Research Center scientists Peter Jenniskens and colleagues have observed some meteors from this shower in August 2025 and, after analyzing their features, have concluded that the shower's activity will increase until mid-September and then start to decline. They are expecting stronger peaks compared to the last four years based on their readings of these meteors.
How Does the 'Peak' Look Like?
The peak would have meteors more visible in the shower compared to the past four years, as per experts. Compared to other meteor showers, the "shooting stars" in this situation are slow, which enhances the viewing experience. According to the estimates, the meteors will be striking the Earth at a speed of 9 miles per second. Only one or two meteors are expected to appear every hour during their "peak," according to IFLScience. Though the shower will be faint, its rarity and unknown features make it a special phenomenon for aficionados.
The shower appears to come from a point near the star Chi Cygni in the constellation of Cygnus, which is all that is known about the shower's origin. The star is around 500 light-years from the solar system. Researchers believe that the shower experiences a peak every five years because some meteoroids get trapped in a resonance with Jupiter during the four years. Their release increases the intensity of the shower. However, experts expect a "peak" in mid-September; they are unsure when exactly it will occur. They are guessing it will unfold at night from Saturday, September 13, through Monday, September 15, 2025.
Timings of the Meteor Shower
Experts are unsure about the exact hours when the "peak" will be visible during the weekend. There is also some debate about the dates, as experts from the American Meteor Society (AMS) are claiming that September 16, 2025, will host the peak activity period. Hence, authorities are advising stargazers to keep an eye out on all three days. Researchers expect the showers to be visible in the USA, and as with every shower, the best place to see them would be under a dark, moonless night sky away from light pollution. Stargazers are lucky as it will be the last quarter moon on Saturday, making the shower easier to spot. This shower in particular would be more visible in the evening and possibly be at its peak after moonrise.