Lyrids meteor shower visible in S’pore skies on Apr. 22 & 23

The Lyrids meteor shower, one of the oldest known meteor showers, will peak from Apr. 22 to 23. 2026.

Stargazers in Singapore can expect to see 10 to 20 Lyrid meteors traversing the night sky per hour.

According to The Observatory at Science Centre Singapore, the Lyrid meteors will be visible to the naked eye.

The meteor shower will be active between Apr. 17 to Apr. 26 and best viewed after 11pm.

Optimal viewing

Observers should seek darker locations that provide an unobstructed view of the sky.

This includes parks, beaches, reservoirs, or open spaces far away from city lights, preferably facing the east.

The visibility of the occurrence might be affected by Singapore’s light pollution, weather conditions and recurrent cloud cover.

Observers are advised to check the weather forecast for clear viewing.

The Science Centre Observatory Singapore will not be holding a specific viewing session for this meteor shower.

But it holds stargazing sessions on selected Fridays where enthusiasts can explore the solar system and the planets up close through a telescope.

What is the Lyrids meteor shower?

Named for its radiant point near the constellation Lyra, the Lyrids meteor shower is an annual event that peaks in late April.

This occurs when Earth crosses the trail of debris left by Comet Thatcher, causing the debris to disintegrate in Earth’s atmosphere and produce streaks of colourful lights in the night sky.

The Lyrid meteors are also known for occasional surges, where up to 100 meteors can be seen per hour.

However, these outbursts occur approximately every 60 years.

This is due to gravitational forces from other planets that reshape the trail of debris left by Comet Thatcher.

The next Lyrid outburst is expected to occur in 2042.

Top photo via Unsplash