Lyrid Meteor Shower 2026
This event took place on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Here is everything about it.
📅 Wednesday, April 22, 2026
📝 About Lyrid Meteor Shower 2026
The Lyrids are among the oldest recorded meteor showers in history, with Chinese astronomers noting 'stars fell like rain' during a Lyrid display in 687 BC — over 2,700 years ago. Peaking around April 22, the shower produces 10 to 20 meteors per hour under typical conditions, though occasional outbursts have yielded spectacular rates of over 100 per hour, as occurred in 1982. The shower's parent body is Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, a long-period comet that orbits the Sun every 415 years. Lyrid meteors are known for their relatively fast speed (49 km/s) and occasional bright fireballs. As the first major meteor shower of Northern Hemisphere spring, the Lyrids offer a welcome return to meteor-watching season after the quiet winter months.
📋 Quick Facts
- Date
- Wednesday, April 22, 2026
- Day of the Week
- Wednesday
- Days Remaining
- This event has passed
- Category
- Seasons & Astronomy
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
There are 0 days until Lyrid Meteor Shower 2026 on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
Lyrid Meteor Shower 2026 is on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
The Lyrids are among the oldest recorded meteor showers in history, with Chinese astronomers noting 'stars fell like rain' during a Lyrid display in 687 BC — over 2,700 years ago. Peaking around April 22, the shower produces 10 to 20 meteors per hour under typical conditions, though occasional outbursts have yielded spectacular rates of over 100 per hour, as occurred in 1982. The shower's parent body is Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, a long-period comet that orbits the Sun every 415 years. Lyrid meteors are known for their relatively fast speed (49 km/s) and occasional bright fireballs. As the first major meteor shower of Northern Hemisphere spring, the Lyrids offer a welcome return to meteor-watching season after the quiet winter months.
Lyrid Meteor Shower 2026 falls on a Wednesday.