India, Jan. 16 -- Most natural spectacles require packing a bag and logging miles in pursuit, but the meteor showers set to light up the night in 2026 demand little more than patience, an open dark sky, and a comfortable chair. Below are nearly a dozen worth circling on the calendar, with each offering a low-effort, high-reward reason to trade a little sleep for one of nature's most entertaining night sky events.

April 15-29: The Lyrid Meteor Shower Peak: April 21-22 Moon Impact: None

Created from debris streams left behind by Comet Thatcher (which last circled the sun in 1861), the Lyrid meteor shower averages between 10 to 20 fireballs per hour. The display is best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere, but Southern denizens should still ...