Lyrid Meteor Shower: Peak Time and Best Viewing Tips This Week

The Lyrid meteor shower is set to peak around 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, with prime viewing for the Northern Hemisphere from Tuesday night through dawn Wednesday under a dark sky. To watch, seek out a dark, light-pollution-free area, lie on your back, and give your eyes about 45 minutes to adjust; avoid using your phone to protect night vision. Under favorable conditions you can expect roughly 10–20 meteors per hour, with occasional surges up to 100 per hour (though the next big outburst isn’t until 2040). The shower hails from Comet Thatcher and radiates from Lyra near Vega, and it runs through April 30. A next meteor shower, Eta Aquariids, peaks May 5–6.