One of the oldest visible meteor showers has returned for 2026: here’s how and when to see Lyrids ‘shooting stars’ peak in the UK this week

The night sky has dazzled humanity for millennia. When we look up, we’re seeing the very same stars, the same meteor showers, the same constellations as our ancient ancestors. That’s pretty wild to think about. 

This month, we’ll be treated to one of the longest enduring celestial displays scientists know of. The Lyrids meteor shower was first documented by Chinese astronomers in 687BC (more than 2,700 years ago). It crosses the Earth’s atmosphere around this time every year for our viewing pleasure and this week it will reach its maximum – ie the point at which it’s most impressive to look at. 

Here’s everything you need to know if you hope to spot the Lyrids, the oldest known meteor shower, this week. 

What is the Lyrid meteor shower?

The Lyrid shower is made up of little bits of space debris that have been left behind by Comet Thatcher, which passes by Earth every 415 years or so. 

Royal Museums Greenwich describes this particular shower as ‘bright fast meteors, some with trains’. Those train of light are result of the bits of debris falling so fast that they heat up to 1600°C. They’re generally tiny so burn up long before they have the chance to hit the surface of the Earth.

The Lyrids has an hourly rate of about 18 visible meteors, which isn’t much compared to bigger showers, like the Perseids, which sees rates of up to 150 per hour.

When is the Lyrid meteor shower 2026?

The shower started illuminating our skies on April 16, but will peak and be at its most spectacular on Wednesday April 22. 

What is the best time to see the Lyrid meteor shower?

The darker the sky, the better your chance of seeing the meteors. That means that the ideal time to look up will be around 3am-5am. 

Tips to see the meteor shower

As always, your best bet for getting a good glimpse of the Lyrids is somewhere unobstructed by lights and buildings, like at the top of a hill, far away from the nearest city.

Once you’ve found a spot, give your eyes about 20 minutes to adjust to the dark (which does involve not looking at your phone), and lie down if you can. There’s no need for any fancy equipment, you should be able to see the streaks of light with the naked eye. 

But most importantly, you’re going to need the skies to be clear. At the time of writing, the outlook for the UK on April 22 is dry and sunny (perfect!), though there may be some clouds and showers in the east. 

ICYMI: How a gargantuan global weather event could cause heatwaves in the UK this summer. 

Plus: Tourists have been warned to keep their distance from these iconic British beasts. 

Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out UK newsletter for the latest UK news and the best stuff happening across the country.