3Pre-IntermediateGeneralScience

Shooting Stars Will Light Up the Sky This Week

The Lyrid meteor shower is happening this April. You can see up to 20 shooting stars every hour. Find out when and how to watch this beautiful sky show.

1 min readLevel 3April 20, 2026

By Flalingo Editorial Team

Vocabulary

Study these words before reading the article. Click the audio button to hear pronunciation.

meteor

/ˈmiːtiər/

noun

A small piece of rock that burns brightly when it falls through the sky

“We saw a bright meteor in the sky last night.”

shower

/ˈʃaʊər/

noun

Many things falling or happening at the same time, like rain or meteors

“The meteor shower was beautiful to watch.”

trail

/treɪl/

noun

A long line or mark left behind something that moves

“The plane left a white trail in the blue sky.”

appear

/əˈpɪr/

verb

To become possible to see; to show up

“The stars appear in the sky when it gets dark.”

telescope

/ˈtelɪskoʊp/

noun

A tool that makes far away things look bigger and closer

“He used a telescope to look at the moon.”

wonderful

/ˈwʌndərfəl/

adjective

Very good; making you feel happy or surprised

“The view from the mountain was wonderful.”

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Article

Click on any underlined word to see its definition. Highlighted words are from the vocabulary section.

Every April, shooting stars fill the night sky. This event is called the Lyrid meteor shower. It happens between April 16 and April 25. The best night to watch is April 22. You should look up in the early morning.

You can see 5 to 20 meteors each hour. The meteors leave long white trails in the sky. They come from an old comet called Thatcher. The shooting stars appear near two star groups. These groups are called Hercules and Lyra.

You need a dark place to watch well. Go far away from city lights if possible. You do not need a telescope for this. Just lean back and relax outside. This shower is a wonderful event for everyone.

Comprehension Quiz

Test your understanding of the article with these multiple-choice questions.

1
When does the Lyrid meteor shower peak?
2
How many meteors can you see per hour?
3
What is the name of the comet that creates the Lyrids?
4
What do you need to watch the meteor shower?

Discussion

Answer these comprehension questions about the article.

1
When is the best night to watch the Lyrid meteor shower?
2
How many meteors can you see in one hour?
3
Where do the Lyrid meteors come from?
4
What kind of place is best for watching meteors?
5
Why don't you need a telescope to see this meteor shower?

Further Discussion

Share your opinions on these open-ended questions.

1
Have you ever seen a shooting star in the night sky?
2
Do you like to look at the stars at night? Why or why not?
3
What do you think is the most beautiful thing in nature?
4
Would you like to travel somewhere dark to watch meteors?
5
What other things in the sky do you find interesting?