Lyrid Meteor Shower 2026 Dates & Timings: When, Where & How to Watch Shooting Stars In India, UK, USA

The time for stunning shooting stars has arrived as the Lyrid meteor shower began in the initial days of this month. The peak of this meteor shower is on April 22, and Comet Thatcher will bloom in the night skies across several countries. As space experts predict, the moon is unlikely to hinder peak viewing of the Comet showers.

What Is Lyrid Meteor Shower 2026:

The Lyrid meteor shower is one of the oldest recorded meteor showers in the history. They are linked with the constellation Lyra and are associated with Comet Thatcher, which orbits around the sun every 415.5 years. The close it reached near the sun was in 1861.

As per historical Chinese texts, the shower was seen over 2,500 years ago. Notably, the fireball of the meteor are from actually debris of Comet Thatcher. The next appearance is expected in 2276.

Meanwhile, NASA explained that the Lyrids are known for their fast and bright meteors. Though not as fast or as plentiful as the famous Perseids in August, Lyrids can surprise watchers with as many as 100 meteors seen per hour. Sightings of these heavier showers occurred in 1803 (Virginia), 1922 (Greece), 1945 (Japan), and 1982 (U.S.). In general, 10-20 Lyrid meteors can be seen per hour during their peak.

Lyrids don't tend to leave long, glowing dust trains behind them as they streak through the Earth's atmosphere, but they can produce the occasional bright flash called a fireball.

Comet Tatcher:

As per NASA, the pieces of space debris that interact with our atmosphere to create the Lyrids originate from comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher. Comet Thatcher was discovered on April 5, 1861, by A. E. Thatcher.

Lyrid Meteor Shower 2026 Dates:

The meteor shower began its journey from April 16 to April 25, while it will reach its peak on April 22 and April 23.

Lyrid Meteor Shower 2026 Best Timings USA:

In the US, the shower's peak activity will be visible at around 4 p.m. EDT (2000 GMT) on April 22. As per the Space report, if you're watching from the U.S., your best time for spotting Lyrid shooting stars is during the hours preceding dawn on April 22, when up to 18 meteors may be seen each hour blazing away from an apparent point of origin, or radiant, located close to the bright star Vega in the constellation Lyra.

Lyrid Meteor Shower 2026 Best Timings India:

The best timing to watch the meteor shower is after midnight to before dawn. This time, at least 20 meteors per hour is likely to grace the night sky in India. Check City-Wise Timings:

Indian Cities	Timings
New Delhi	2:30 AM - 5:00 AM
Mumbai	2:30 AM - 5:00 AM
Bengaluru	2:00 AM - 5:00 AM
Chennai	2:30 AM - 5:00 AM
Kolkata	2:30 AM - 5:00 AM
Hyderabad	2:00 AM - 5:00 AM
Pune	2:00 AM - 5:00 AM

Lyrid Meteor Shower 2026 Best Timings UK:

The shower could be best viewed between 2 am to 4 am in the United Kingdom.

How To See The Lyrid Meteor Showers?

As per Time And Date website, here are the best way to view the stunning shooting showers of the Comet.

1. Find a secluded viewing spot, away from the city lights. Once at the venue, your eyes may take 15 to 20 minutes to get used to the dark.

2. Dress for the weather, and make sure you are comfortable, especially if you plan to stay out long. Bring a blanket or a comfortable chair with you-meteor watching can be a waiting game.

3. Once you have found your viewing spot, lie down on the ground and look at the sky. You can use our Interactive Meteor Shower Sky Map or the table above to find the direction of the radiant; the higher the radiant is above the horizon, the more meteors you are likely to see.

4. Meteor showers appear to originate from the radiant, but meteors can appear in any part of the sky.

Meanwhile, NASA directed that find an area well away from city lights or street lights. Come prepared with a sleeping bag, blanket, or lawn chair. Lie flat on your back with your feet facing east and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible. After about 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors. Be patient - the show will last until dawn, so you have plenty of time to catch a glimpse.