How to watch the 2026 Lyrids meteor shower at its peak

In the middle of April, astronomy Enthusiasts will be able to enjoy one of the classic celestial spectacles. The meteor shower known as the Lyrids will light up the sky, especially in the northern hemisphere, and anyone will be able to see it with the naked eye, weather permitting—if they know where to look.

The Lyrids began to appear as early as April 14, but their activity peaks between the night of April 21 and the early morning of April 22. according to NASA. During those hours, the shower will show 15 to 20 meteors per hour under dark skies.

The shower gets its name because the meteors appear to emerge from the constellation Lyra. Locating the jet is simple if you use an astronomical mapping app: Just look for Vega, the fifth brightest star in the sky, surpassed only by Sirius, Canopus, Alpha Centauri A and Arcturus. Once you locate it, look around it; the light trails of the Lyrids will appear to be projected from that point due to a perspective effect. Keep in mind that it takes 20 to 30 minutes for the human eye to adjust to darkness.

the moon will be in the early crescent phase during the peak, so its light will interfere very little. With a dark sky, meteors should stand out easily. The shower is usually visible from 22:00 until dawn, although early morning offers the best conditions. It is best to stay away from light pollution and, if possible, observe from high ground. A trip to the mountains works well.

Each meteor shower has a different origin. In April, Earth crosses the cloud of fragments left by comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher) in its orbit around the sun. Discovered in 1861, this comet takes about 415 years to complete its journey. The ice and rock grains it released eons ago enter the atmosphere at high speeds and produce the flashes we know as the Lyrids.

After the Lyrids, the calendar still holds several spectacles for those who follow the night sky. The Eta Aquarids will arrive in May with debris from Halley’s Comet. The Perseids will appear in August, the Orionides will return in October, and the year will close with the Leonids in November and the Geminids in December. The latter is considered the most intense and reliable shower on the calendar.

This story originally appeared on WIRED in Spanish and was translated from Spanish.