Trending Now - Lyrid Meteor Shower and Comet Pan-starrs Set for Viewing
WHO:
WTOP - The Lyrid meteor shower is being observed by the public.
Forbes - Comet C/2025 R3 (Pan-STARRS) is being observed by the public.
WHAT:
WTOP - The Lyrid meteor shower is expected to produce up to 20 meteors per hour from midnight through dawn on April 22, 2026.
Forbes - The Eta Aquarid meteor shower began on April 19, 2026, and will peak overnight on May 5-6, 2026.
Forbes - Comet C/2025 R3 (Pan-STARRS) is currently moving away from the sun at about 0.52 AU (78 million kilometers) as of April 21, 2026.
WTOP - The Lyrid meteor shower is expected to produce 15 to 20 meteors per hour during its peak.
WTOP - The peak of the Lyrid meteor shower is centered on April 22, 2026, at 4 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
Forbes - Comet C/2025 R3 (Pan-STARRS) is visible from about an hour before sunrise on April 21, 2026.
Forbes - The comet is currently shining at around magnitude +4.7.
Forbes - The Lyrid meteor shower is one of the oldest known meteor showers.
WHERE:
WTOP - The Lyrid meteor shower radiates from near the bright star Vega in the constellation Lyra.
Forbes - Comet Pan-STARRS is located in the constellation Pisces.
WHEN:
Forbes - The closest approach of Comet C/2025 R3 (Pan-STARRS) to Earth is on April 27, 2026, but it will be impossible to see from the Northern Hemisphere at that time.
WTOP - The peak of the Lyrid meteor shower is expected on the night of April 21-22, 2026.
Forbes - Comet C/2025 R3 (Pan-STARRS) was discovered in September 2025.
Forbes - The comet reached perihelion on April 19, 2026.
Forbes - The closest approach of the comet to Earth is on April 27, 2026.
WHY:
WTOP - The Lyrid meteor shower occurs as Earth passes through debris left behind by Comet Thatcher.
HOW:
WTOP - Observers can listen to meteor radar to monitor the Lyrid meteor shower, which provides audio feedback on incoming meteors.
WTOP - Observers can see the Lyrid meteor shower by finding a dark location and looking northeast after midnight.
Forbes - To find Comet Pan-STARRS, observers should locate the Great Square of Pegasus and look for a misty patch of light beneath the star Algenib.
(UPDATED April 21, 2026 07:23 UTC)
The Lyrid meteor shower is expected to light up the sky with up to 20 meteors per hour from midnight through dawn April 22nd. Meanwhile, the Eta Aquarid meteor shower began on Sunday and will reach its peak overnight May 5th-6. Additionally, Comet C/2025 R3 (Pan-STARRS) is currently moving away from the sun and will make its closest approach to Earth April 27th, but it will not be visible from the Northern Hemisphere at that time.
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(UPDATED April 21, 2026 05:43 UTC)
The Lyrid meteor shower is currently being observed, with its peak expected on the night of on Tuesday-22, producing 15 to 20 meteors per hour. Meanwhile, Comet C/2025 R3, also known as Pan-STARRS, is visible from about an hour before sunrise and is shining at around magnitude +4.7, located in the constellation Pisces. To catch the best view of the Lyrids, find a dark spot and look northeast after midnight, while for the comet, locate the Great Square of Pegasus and search for a misty patch of light beneath the star Algenib.