The Lyrids
Based on NASA, AMS and IMO references, with Moon figures from USNO. Our calculations, suggested observing nights and plain-language guide are labeled separately.
Our guideWhat this means for your night
Our plain-language reading of the sources and calculations on this page. It adds no new facts; the quotes below are the evidence.
What to expect. The Lyrids are one of the oldest recorded showers: NASA says they have been observed for 2,700 years, back to 687 BC in China. Their parent, according to NASA's page, is Comet Thatcher, discovered in 1861. NASA puts typical peak rates at 10 to 20 an hour, and the AMS says the shower usually gives good rates for three nights around the maximum. NASA lists stronger displays in 1803, 1922, 1945 and 1982.
Timing in 2027. The AMS says the radiant is high in the sky at dawn from the northern hemisphere, and our calculation puts it highest around 4 a.m. local mean solar time. The problem in 2027 is the Moon: IMO says the April Lyrid maximum shortly after Full Moon has the worst conditions, and USNO shows a waning gibbous Moon, 96% lit on Apr 22 and 92% on Apr 23.
Tips that follow. With a bright Moon, the meteors worth waiting for are the bright ones, and NASA notes that Lyrids can produce the occasional fireball even though they rarely leave long trains. Because good rates span about three nights, any of the nights around the maximum is a reasonable try.
Finding the radiant. NASA says Lyrids radiate from the area near Vega, the brightest star in the constellation, which makes this one of the easier radiants to point out to children. Meteors appear across the sky, as the AMS notes, so once you've found Vega, look about halfway up instead of staring at it.
| Shower | Night | Published ZHR | Moon lit (USNO, each date) | Radiant highest: our calculation, approximate LMST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lyrids 2027 | Apr 22–23, 2027 (our suggested night for the Eastern US; IMO gives the maximum as Apr 23, 2027, 01:40 UT, which our conversion puts at Apr 22, 9:40 p.m. EDT) | 18 (IMO 2027 calendar) | Apr 22: waning gibbous, 96%; Apr 23: waning gibbous, 92% | 4 a.m. |
LMST is local mean solar time, which can differ from your clock by an hour or more. The time the radiant is highest isn't a recommended start time; it can fall in twilight or daylight. Moon figures: USNO's one-day figure for each calendar date, requested for 39.83° N, 98.58° W (near the center of the contiguous US) at UTC−6. USNO doesn't say what time of day the figure applies to. Illumination only; check local moonrise and moonset.
Where they come from
“Comet Thatcher was discovered on April 5, 1861, by A. E. Thatcher.”
Source: NASA meteor shower page
When they're active
“The Lyrids are a medium-strength shower that usually produces good rates for three nights centered on the maximum.”
Source: AMS meteor shower calendar
Where to look
“Lyrids appear to radiate from the area near the star Vega, the brightest star in this constellation.”
Source: NASA meteor shower page
Lyrids: radiant height and rise time, Apr 22, 2027
Our calculationFrom the radiant position on our calendar: right ascension (RA) 271°, declination (Dec) +34° (IMO 2027 calendar). Method on our About page.
| Latitude | Places near this latitude | Highest altitude | Radiant rises (approximate LMST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30° N | Houston, New Orleans | 86° | 8:30 p.m. |
| 40° N | Columbus, Denver | 84° | 7:30 p.m. |
| 48° N | Seattle, northern Minnesota | 76° | 7 p.m. |
Highest altitude is when the radiant crosses due north-south. The rise time is when it clears a flat horizon, ignoring refraction, twilight and terrain.
How many to expect
“In general, 10-20 Lyrid meteors can be seen per hour during their peak.”
Source: NASA meteor shower page
ZHR is a standardized rate: what one observer would count in an hour under a perfectly dark sky with the radiant straight overhead. It isn't a forecast, and what you count is usually lower.
What they look like
“Lyrids don’t tend to leave long, glowing dust trains behind them as they streak through the Earth's atmosphere, but they can produce the occasional bright flash called a fireball.”
Source: NASA meteor shower page
Famous displays
“The Lyrids have been observed for 2,700 years. The first recorded sighting of a Lyrid meteor shower goes back to 687 BC by the Chinese.”
Source: NASA meteor shower page
“Sightings of these heavier showers occurred in 1803 (Virginia), 1922 (Greece), 1945 (Japan), and 1982 (U.S.).”
Source: NASA meteor shower page
How to watch
“These meteors are best seen from the northern hemisphere, where the radiant is high in the sky at dawn.”
Source: AMS meteor shower calendar
“The April Lyrid maximum shortly after Full Moon has the worst conditions.”
Source: IMO 2027 Meteor Shower Calendar (PDF)
For any meteor shower
“Most meteor showers are best observed between midnight and dawn.”
Source: AMS meteor FAQ
“Find a dark location with an unobstructed view and give your eyes at least 20–30 minutes to adjust. Full dark adaptation takes longer, so avoid bright lights and phone screens.”
Source: AMS meteor FAQ
“Meteor showers are best observed with the unaided eye. Binoculars and telescopes restrict your field of view, making it harder to catch meteors appearing across the sky.”
Source: AMS meteor FAQ
“Look toward a dark, clear part of the sky, roughly halfway between the horizon and directly overhead.”
Source: AMS meteor FAQ
“It is a standardized estimate of shower activity under ideal conditions: a very dark, clear sky with the radiant directly overhead. It is not the number most observers will actually see.”
Source: AMS meteor FAQ
How many meteors you actually see depends on the shower's activity that night, how dark your sky is, clouds, and how high the radiant is.
We don't know the weather on any given night. Check a forecast, and the calendar for the moon on each date.