Lyrids Meteor Shower 2026: Best Time to Watch and Photograph It

Why the Lyrids still deserve a spot on your calendar

The Lyrids are not the biggest shower of the year, but they are one of the first strong reasons to plan a spring dark-sky session. That alone makes them useful for photographers eager to get back into night work after winter.

How to approach the April 22-23 peak

Use the peak as a priority window, but stay flexible within a broader viewing range. Meteor activity, moonlight, and local weather all influence whether the night is actually worth the trip.

• Choose dark locations away from city glow.
• Watch moon phase and moonset timing closely.
• Use wide compositions and continuous shooting for more chances.

What makes spring meteor sessions tricky

Spring weather can be volatile, and that volatility matters more than the headline shower name. Thin cloud, haze, or unstable seeing can erase the value of a promising meteor night faster than most people expect.