The annual Lyrid meteor show will peak across the UK sky on Thursday night and into Friday morning in a welcome treat for stargazers.

Here is all you need to know about the celestial event that will bring an end to the meteor shower drought which started on the second night of 2022.

Shooting stars flying across the midnight sky can be a mesmerising sight and now is your chance to catch a glimpse if you're in Cumbria.

What is the Lyrid meteor shower?

The shower takes place around this time every year, and although it is not the most impressive, it is typically reliable.

It is named after the Lyra constellation – the star which it appears to come from.


Celestial Events in 2022


The meteors, which appear as shooting stars, are actually pieces of debris which fall from the Thatcher Comet. It is expected to return in 2276, after a 415-year orbital period.

What time will I be able to see the Lyrid meteor shower?

This year’s shower began on 14 April and will continue until 30 April.

The peak days will be the nights of 22 and 23 April. It will be most visible between the hours of midnight and dawn.

How to see the Lyrid meteor shower in Cumbria

Across Cumbria the Met Office is forecasting clear skies, so star gazers are in with a very good chance of catching a glimpse of the meteor shower.

If you plan on staying up late to watch the annual shower, you're best to bring a comfy chair and to wrap up warm. 

Plus, you'll need to find a dark spot away from light pollution and with an unobstructed view of the sky.

The best time to see the shower is in the early morning of the peak day, waiting until after midnight when 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. 

At the time of the peak, lying on the ground will ensure you see as much of the spectacle as possible.