Every little thing you should know in regards to the phenomenon – together with ‘Moon Bonus’.
The Lyrid meteor bathe is seen over Burg on the Baltic Sea island of Fehmarn off Germany (Picture: AP)
The Lyrid meteor bathe is without doubt one of the oldest recognized annual meteor shows, and in 2026 it should as soon as once more provide UK skywatchers an opportunity to identify quick, shiny streaks of sunshine crossing the evening sky. Whereas it isn’t essentially the most intense meteor bathe of the 12 months, it’s dependable and sometimes produces sudden “outbursts” of exercise that may see charges soar considerably.
Clear skies are important, so preserve an in depth eye on the Met Workplace forecast. Even when there may be some patchy cloud, the Lyrids’ tendency to supply shiny bursts means it’s usually price staying out for a brief window of clear sky to catch a glimpse of those historic celestial travellers.
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The London Millennium Footbridge is illuminated below the celebrities on a transparent evening (Picture: Getty Photos)
What’s the Lyrid meteor bathe?
The Lyrid meteor bathe happens when Earth passes by a stream of mud and small particles left behind by Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher.
These tiny particles, usually no bigger than grains of sand, enter Earth’s environment at a staggering velocity of about 110,000 mph. They expend because of friction, creating the seen streaks we name meteors or “capturing stars”.
The bathe seems to radiate from the constellation Lyra, particularly close to the intense star Vega, which is the place it will get its identify. Nonetheless, you don’t want to look straight at Lyra to see them; in reality, the meteors usually seem longer and extra dramatic after they streak throughout different elements of the sky.
The Lyrids have been noticed for greater than 2,000 years—with the primary recorded sighting by Chinese language astronomers in 687 BC—making them one of many longest-recorded meteor showers recognized.
Usually, the Lyrids produce round 10 to twenty meteors per hour at their peak below good situations. Whereas they lack the sheer quantity of the summer season Perseids, they’re recognized for producing “fireballs”—exceptionally shiny meteors that may depart glowing mud trails (referred to as trains) behind them for a number of seconds.
One of many largest elements in a profitable meteor watch is the section of the Moon. In a few years, a shiny Full Moon can wash out the sky, making all however the very brightest meteors invisible to the bare eye.
2026 presents improbable situations. On the height evening of 21–22 April, the Moon can be a waxing crescent, solely about 27% illuminated. Crucially for UK observers, the Moon will set comparatively early within the night, properly earlier than the radiant level reaches its highest place.
This ensures that in the course of the prime viewing window—between midnight and daybreak—the sky can be naturally darkish and freed from moonlight.
Lyrid meteor bathe: NASA’s all-sky cameras seize fireballs
What time is the Lyrid meteor bathe?
This “darkish sky” window is the right canvas for recognizing the fainter Lyrids that might in any other case go unseen, making 2026 one of the vital promising years for the bathe in latest reminiscence.
The Lyrid meteor bathe is lively annually in April, normally between 16 and 25 April, with the height anticipated on the evening of Tuesday 21 April and the early morning of Wednesday 22 April.
For UK observers, the most effective viewing time is usually in the course of the hours after midnight and earlier than daybreak.
That is when the radiant level in Lyra rises larger within the sky and the UK aspect of Earth is rotating straight into the trail of the incoming cometary particles.
The Lyrid meteor bathe peaks tonight the place round 10-15 meteors per hour could move throughout the skies above ⭐
With clear skies within the forecast, some could have good viewing situations this night ?????? pic.twitter.com/m2uWbGduEM
— Met Workplace (@metoffice) April 21, 2026
Easy methods to see the Lyrid meteor bathe tonight
To see the Lyrids within the UK, you don’t want any particular gear like a telescope or binoculars. In truth, these are literally a hindrance as a result of they slim your field of regard; meteors transfer far too shortly to be tracked this manner.
Discover a darkish spot: Get away from streetlights and concrete mild air pollution. Rural areas, coastal viewpoints, or native parks with wide-open horizons provide the most effective situations. Darkish Sky Discovery Websites, similar to these within the South Downs, Snowdonia, or the Northumberland Worldwide Darkish Sky Park, are perfect in case you are close by.
Let your eyes adapt: It takes about 20–half-hour on your eyes to completely alter to the darkish. Keep away from taking a look at your cell phone throughout this time, as the intense mild will smash your evening imaginative and prescient.
Gown warmly: Even in late April, sitting nonetheless for an hour at 2:00 am will be very chilly. A reclining backyard chair and a sleeping bag or thick quilt are extremely beneficial.
Search for: Whereas the meteors radiate from the east/northeast (close to Vega), they will seem wherever. Lie in your again and soak up as a lot of the sky as potential.
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