When is the Lyrid meteor shower 2027?
The Lyrids peak on April 23, 2027
Peak Apr 23, around 1h UT. ZHR 18, Moon 95% lit at the peak. From New York, the best window is 1:00 am–5:10 am on the night of Thursday, April 22–23. Pick your city for its own times.
Best time to watch
computed for each cityAt 4:10 am the radiant in Lyra is 78° up; the radiant is already up at nightfall. Moon 94% lit, rises 10:20 pm. Dark sky 8:50 pm–5:10 am.
| Night | Best time | Meteors per hour* |
|---|---|---|
| Tue, Apr 20–21 | 4:40 am–5:10 am | 2 |
| Wed, Apr 21–22 | 3:10 am–5:10 am | 4 |
| Thu, Apr 22–23 peak | 1:00 am–5:10 am | 5 |
| Fri, Apr 23–24 | 10:40 pm–12:40 am | 3 |
| Sat, Apr 24–25 | 11:20 pm–1:20 am | 2 |
* Estimated meteors per hour at the best time from a dark site under a clear sky (ZHR × radiant height × Moon). From a town expect a third or less. Rates vary from year to year; weather is not forecast.
City by city
The best night and window for the Lyrids in our biggest cities, local time.
| City | Best night | Best time (local) | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | Thu, Apr 22–23 | 1:00 am–5:10 am | 5 |
| Los Angeles | Thu, Apr 22–23 | 1:10 am–5:20 am | 4 |
| Chicago | Thu, Apr 22–23 | 12:50 am–5:00 am | 5 |
| Houston | Thu, Apr 22–23 | 1:40 am–6:00 am | 5 |
| Phoenix | Thu, Apr 22–23 | 12:40 am–5:00 am | 5 |
| Philadelphia | Thu, Apr 22–23 | 1:00 am–5:10 am | 5 |
| Jacksonville | Thu, Apr 22–23 | 1:50 am–6:00 am | 5 |
| Columbus | Thu, Apr 22–23 | 1:30 am–5:40 am | 5 |
| Charlotte | Thu, Apr 22–23 | 1:30 am–5:50 am | 5 |
| Indianapolis | Thu, Apr 22–23 | 1:50 am–6:00 am | 5 |
| Seattle | Thu, Apr 22–23 | 10:30 pm–12:50 am | 6 |
| Denver | Thu, Apr 22–23 | 1:00 am–5:10 am | 5 |
| London | Thu 22–23 Apr | 2:40 am–4:30 am | 8 |
| Birmingham | Thu 22–23 Apr | 2:20 am–4:30 am | 8 |
| Glasgow | Thu 22–23 Apr | 11:20 pm–4:20 am | 9 |
| Manchester | Thu 22–23 Apr | 2:10 am–4:30 am | 9 |
| Toronto | Thu, Apr 22–23 | 10:20 pm–12:40 am | 5 |
| Montréal | Thu, Apr 22–23 | 10:00 pm–12:20 am | 6 |
| Calgary | Thu, Apr 22–23 | 11:00 pm–1:40 am | 7 |
| Ottawa | Thu, Apr 22–23 | 10:10 pm–12:20 am | 6 |
| Sydney | Thu 22–23 Apr | 2:20 am–5:30 am | 2 |
| Melbourne | Thu 22–23 Apr | 2:50 am–6:00 am | 1 |
| Brisbane | Thu 22–23 Apr | 2:00 am–5:20 am | 2 |
| Perth | Thu 22–23 Apr | 2:40 am–5:50 am | 2 |
| Dublin | Thu 22–23 Apr | 2:20 am–4:50 am | 9 |
| Auckland | Thu 22–23 Apr | 2:50 am–6:00 am | 1 |
* Estimated meteors per hour at the best time from a dark site under a clear sky (ZHR × radiant height × Moon). From a town expect a third or less. Rates vary from year to year; weather is not forecast.
About the Lyrids
The Lyrids are the oldest recorded shower, seen for more than 2,600 years, from comet Thatcher. The radiant near Vega rises in the evening and is high before dawn. Rates are about 18 an hour, with rare outbursts.
IMO: the Lyrid maximum comes shortly after Full Moon in 2027, the worst conditions of the year's major peaks.
Parent body: comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher). Active Apr 14–Apr 30. Radiant in Lyra; best from the north.
How to watch
- Get dark. Away from street lights the count can triple.
- Lie back and look about halfway up, toward the darkest part of the sky. You do not need to face the radiant.
- Give it time. Meteors come in clumps; watch for at least 30–60 minutes after your eyes adapt.
- Check the clouds with your local forecast: we do not forecast weather.
Questions
When is the Lyrid meteor shower 2027?
The Lyrids are active Apr 14–Apr 30, with the peak Apr 23, around 1h UT (International Meteor Organization). The best night for you depends on where the peak falls in your local night; the city picker on this page works it out.
What time is best to see the Lyrids?
From New York, 1:00 am–5:10 am on the night of Thursday, April 22–23, when the radiant is 78° up. In general, when the radiant is highest in a dark sky, which for most showers is after midnight.
How many Lyrids will I see per hour?
The IMO lists a ZHR of 18: the rate under a perfect sky with the radiant overhead. From a dark site near New York at the best time, expect about 5 an hour; from a town, a third or less. These are estimates: real rates vary.
Will the Moon affect the Lyrids?
The Moon is 95% lit at the peak. It will hide fainter meteors while it is up; the table shows when it rises or sets for your city.
Where should I look for the Lyrids?
Anywhere: meteors appear all over the sky, they only trace back to the radiant in Lyra. Look about halfway up, away from the Moon and city lights, and give your eyes 20 minutes to adapt.
Other meteor showers
Dates, peak times, ZHR and radiant positions: International Meteor Organization, Meteor Shower Calendar 2026 and 2027 (J. Rendtel, ed.), working list of visual meteor showers. Where the IMO gives no peak time, it is the moment the Sun reaches the listed solar longitude. Darkness, Moon and radiant height computed with Skyfield and JPL DE440. Hourly rates are our estimates from the ZHR and are uncertain; real rates vary from year to year. We do not forecast clouds.