The Lyrid meteor shower is visible from the northern hemisphere (also from the southern hemisphere but at a reduced rate) between April 16 and 25.

The Lyrids have an average activity rate of 18 meteors per hour, and a speed of 49 kilometers per second over several days. In spite of being a modest meteor shower, some years the activity rate increases to over 100 meteors per hour, but it is difficult to predict in which year these "bursts" will take place.

What to expect in 2026?

In 2026, the maximum of this shower will take place around 19h 40m universal time on April 22. Therefore the observation will be better in the first half of the night. The moon will be close to the first quarter, which will happen on April 24, although it will be on the opposite side of the sky with respect to the radiant.

The 'radiant' of the lyrids.

Why do they happen?

The meteors of the Lyrids are fragments of comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher), a long-period comet that orbits the Sun every 415 years. Like every year around this time, the Earth passes through a ring populated with fragments from comet Thatcher. When one of these fragments (or meteoroids) comes into contact with the Earth's atmosphere, it is burnt by friction with the air, thus creating the luminous glow that we know as a meteor or shooting star.

Lyrids have been observed for the last 2600 years, the oldest records are kept in the Chinese book of chronicles Zuo Zhuan and date back to 687 BC.

Meteor showers seem to have a single center of origin, a point from which all shooting stars seem to emerge. That point is called "radiant" and its location is used to name the meteor shower. The Lyrids have their radiant in the constellation of Lyra.

How to see the Lyrids?

They can be observed from any location as long as it provides a dark sky. It is preferable to observe from a place that has few obstacles that limit our sight (such as buildings, trees or mountains), and not to use optical instruments that reduce our field of vision. Even though the Lyrids seem to come from the constellation of Lyra (hence their name), they can be seen anywhere in the sky. It is advisable to look at the darkest areas, in the opposite direction to the position of the Moon if the observation is made before it sets. The most comfortable strategy is to lie down and wait for your eyes to get used to the darkness.