Skywatchers in and around New Glarus may want to set an alarm for early Wednesday, April 22, when the annual Lyrid meteor shower is expected to peak before dawn. Astronomy sources say the best viewing window in 2026 should come after midnight and before sunrise, when the radiant climbs higher and the moon should not interfere much with the show.

For New Glarus-area residents, that could make this one of the better spring chances to step outside and look up. The Lyrids are not usually the biggest meteor shower of the year, but under dark skies they can still produce around 15 to 20 meteors per hour, with the occasional brighter streak or surprise burst.