Lyrid Meteor Shower 2026: Date, Time, Where To Watch Shooting Stars And Will It Be Visible In India?

Lyrid Meteor Shower 2026 Date, Time, And Where To Watch Shooting Stars In India: The Lyrid Meteor Shower is one of the oldest known celestial events, with records dating back over 2,700 years. Known for its fast, bright shooting stars, this annual event is one of the oldest recorded sky displays. If you enjoy stargazing or simply want to catch a few shooting stars, here’s everything you need to know about Lyrid Meteor Shower 2026:

What Is The Lyrid Meteor Shower?

The Lyrid meteor shower happens every year when Earth passes through dust left behind by Comet Thatcher. As these tiny particles enter our atmosphere, they burn up and create bright streaks of light, often called shooting stars. According to NASA Science, “The Lyrids meteor shower, which peaks during late April, is one of the oldest known meteor showers. The Lyrids have been observed for 2,700 years. The first recorded sighting of a Lyrid meteor shower goes back to 687 BC by the Chinese.”

It’s one of the oldest known meteor showers, with records going back over 2,500 years.

Lyrid Meteor Shower 2026 Date

The Lyrid meteor shower 2026 is active between April 16-25, 2026 and peaks April 21-22, 2026, but shower peaks at:

• Peak Lyrid Meteor Shower 2026 Date: Night of April 21, 2026 to early morning of April 22, 2026 

Best Time To Watch Lyrid Meteor Shower 2026?

The best time to watch the Lyrid Meteor Shower 2026 is in the early morning hours of April 22, between midnight and dawn, when up to 18–20 meteors per hour are expected. According to the American Meteor Society (AMS), “In 2026, the Lyrid meteor shower is active from April 16-25, 2026, and reaches peak activity around 4 pm EDT (2000 GMT) on April 22, 2026, during the day for viewers in the US.”

For sky watchers in India, the best time to watch is between 12:00 am and 5:00 am IST on the morning of April 22, 2026.

• Lyrid Meteor Shower 2026 Best Time: After midnight until dawn

• Lyrid Meteor Shower 2026 Peak Time: Early hours of April 22, 2026

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Best Places To Watch Lyrid Meteor Shower 2026

To enjoy the Lyrid Meteor Shower 2026 properly:

Have you seen any shooting stars lately? We’re in the midst of the Lyrid Meteor shower, and I was lucky enough to photograph some from the @Space_Station cupola. The Lyrids are an annual event best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere by looking toward the constellation Lyra in the… pic.twitter.com/B2FqMdEuqs

— Jessica Meir (@Astro_Jessica) April 20, 2026

• Choose a dark, open area away from city lights

• Head to rural spots, hills, or countryside

• Avoid buildings and trees blocking your view

• Let your eyes adjust to the dark for about 20-30 minutes

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Will The Lyrid Meteor Shower 2026 Be Visible In India?

Yes, the Lyrid Meteor Shower 2026 will be visible in India. It can be seen from cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and more, but visibility improves in darker areas away from lights. The best chance to spot shooting stars is in the early morning hours before sunrise, when the sky is darkest and clearest.

With clear skies and some patience, you might catch a few stunning shooting stars.

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Image credit: Shutterstock and Twitter