Peak rate
18
meteors per hour at peak
UpcomingApr 16 – Apr 25
The Lyrids
Spring shower from comet Thatcher; occasional fireball outbursts.
Peak: Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Days since peak
6days
Wait until next year — peak will return on the same date.
Velocity
49
km/s entering atmosphere
Radiant
Lyra
near Vega
Best for
North
hemisphere
Where to look
Meteors radiate outward from a single point on the sky. Face Lyra, then keep the radiant in your peripheral vision.
RA 283°right ascension
Dec +38°declination
Northern skyfavours north
Where it comes from
Parent body
Comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher)
The comet or asteroid whose dust Earth passes through each year.
First recorded
687 BCE
Earliest documented observation.
Entry velocity
49 km/s
Speed at which meteoroids hit the atmosphere.
How to watch
Radiant
Lyra (near Vega)
The apparent point of origin — meteors streak outward from here.
Best viewing time
Late evening to dawn
When the radiant is highest above the horizon.
Hemisphere
Northern — best from Europe, N. America, Asia
Latitude bands that see the highest rates.
Did you know
Observed for 2,700+ years — recorded in ancient Chinese chronicles (687 BCE).
Watching guide
Tailored for the Lyrids.
- 1Get away from city lights
Light pollution hides most meteors. A rural or dark-sky site boosts your count by 5× or more.
- 2Dark-adapt for 20–30 minutes
Your eyes need time to reach peak sensitivity. No phone screens during this window — use a red flashlight if needed.
- 3Aim for the best time: late evening to dawn
This shower is unusual — the radiant is highest in the early evening, so you don't need to stay up late.
- 4No telescope, no binoculars
Meteors appear all over the sky — you want the widest view possible. A reclining chair and a blanket are better tools than optics.
Next shower after Lyrids
Eta Aquariids · peaks May 6