Lyrid meteor shower to be visible in UK tonight as it hits peak

The Lyrid meteor shower is a burst of meteor activity occurring around mid to late April, the  Royal Museums Greenwich explains.

It continues: “The Lyrid meteor shower is associated with long-period Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher.

“It is the oldest recorded meteor shower still visible today, and was first recorded in 687 BCE.”

The best time to see the Lyrid meteor shower in the UK

The Lyrid meteor shower is active between April 16 and 25 in 2026, but is set to peak tonight (April 22), according to the Royal Museums Greenwich.

The experts add: “The best time to see the shower is generally in the early morning of the peak day.

“Wait until after midnight when the radiant point, in the constellation of Lyra, will have risen in the East.

“The later in the morning you wait, the higher the radiant will rise and the fewer meteors will be hidden below the horizon.

“But the closer you get to sunrise, the brighter the sky is going to become, so plan accordingly!”

The Royal Museums Greenwich continues: “In 2026 the Lyrid meteor shower reaches maximum on April 22, two days before the First Quarter Moon, meaning the Moon won’t cause too much light pollution. 

“The best time to look for meteors during the peak will be after the Moon has set, from 2am onwards.

“By this point the Earth will have spun towards the cloud of debris, and it will be easier to spot Lyrid meteors. Then simply fill your view with the sky and wait.”

Stargazers may also be able to catch a glimpse of the Eta Aquariids, which will overlap with the Lyrid meteor shower.

The Eta Aquariids meteor shower will be active from April 19, but won’t reach its peak until May 5.

Best spots in the UK to watch the Lyrid meteor shower

The Royal Museums Greenwich said the main thing when trying to catch a glimpse of any meteor shower is to find a dark site, with an unobstructed view of the sky.

The museum added: “The number of meteors you actually see will depend on all sorts of things, from the time of night to the level of background light.

“A bright sky will drown out the fainter meteors making them much more difficult to see.”

The experts added lying on the ground or using a reclining deckchair was a “great way” of seeing as much as possible.

For those looking for the best spots in the UK to watch the meteor shower, visit Go Stargazing.

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The website contains a map with all the top stargazing locations across the country.

Most of the locations on the map are classified as official dark-sky discovery sites.

Will you be heading out tonight to try and catch a glimpse of the Lyrid meteor shower? Let us know in the comments below.