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Lyrids meteor shower 2026 and 2027
The Lyrids are active 14 – 30 April each year, with a peak rate of about 18 meteors an hour under perfect dark skies. They come from comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher). In 2027 the peak falls on 22 April, with bright moonlight, which will wash out all but the brighter meteors.
Lyrids peak dates for the UK
Peak times are worked out from the Sun's position along its path (the solar longitude the International Meteor Organization gives for the peak), so they are accurate to within a few hours. Real peaks can arrive early or late. 'Best time' is the hour when the radiant is highest while the sky is properly dark.
| Year | Peak (UK time) | Moon at peak | Best time from London |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Wed 22 April (around 11:41 BST) | Waxing crescent, 32% lit | 04:00 BST, radiant about 69° up |
| 2027 | Thu 22 April (around 17:21 BST) | Waning gibbous, 96% lit | 04:00 BST, radiant about 69° up |
What to expect
The rate of about 18 an hour is the zenithal hourly rate, a figure for a perfectly dark sky with the radiant overhead. From a UK garden you will usually see a third to a half of that, fewer near towns or under moonlight. Lyrids enter the atmosphere at about 49 km per second.
The radiant near the bright star Vega rises in the evening and is high by the small hours, so the best time is from midnight to dawn.
History and origin
The Lyrids have the longest written history of any shower: Chinese records describe them in 687 BC. Rates are modest, but the shower has produced surprise outbursts of 100 or more an hour, the last notable one in 1982.
The meteors are specks of dust shed by comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher). When Earth crosses that dust each year, the grains burn up about 80 to 100 km overhead.
How to watch
- Find somewhere away from streetlights, ideally with a wide view of the sky. Our UK dark sky spots by county list designated places near you.
- Give your eyes 20 minutes to adapt, and keep your phone on a dim red screen.
- Lie back on a reclining chair and look about two-thirds of the way up the sky, not straight at the radiant.
- Dress for twice as cold as you expect, and bring a hot drink.
- Check the moon calendar for the phase, and the weather forecast for cloud.
Folklore and tradition
Shooting stars have long been seen as signs. A common British wish custom is to make a wish before the meteor fades and keep it secret. Others saw them as souls passing, or as a sign of good luck for the year. We share these as folklore, part of why people have always loved a night under the stars.
For a night under the stars
Questions answered
When do the Lyrids peak in 2027?
Around 22 April 2027, near 17:21 BST UK time. Watch the nights either side too.
How many Lyrids will I see?
The peak rate is about 18 an hour under perfect skies. From a typical UK site, expect a fraction of that, depending on darkness and moonlight.
Will the moon spoil the Lyrids in 2027?
At the 2027 peak the moon is 96% lit (waning gibbous), so expect bright moonlight, which will wash out all but the brighter meteors.
What causes the Lyrids?
Dust from comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher), burning up as Earth passes through it.
Do I need a telescope to see the Lyrids?
No. Meteors move too fast and across too much of the sky. Your eyes are the best instrument.
Key facts (summary)
- The Lyrids are active 14 – 30 April each year, with a peak rate of about 18 meteors an hour under perfect dark skies.
- Around 22 April 2027, near 17:21 BST UK time.
- The peak rate is about 18 an hour under perfect skies.
- At the 2027 peak the moon is 96% lit (waning gibbous), so expect bright moonlight, which will wash out all but the brighter meteors.
- Dust from comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher), burning up as Earth passes through it.
- No.
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