Lyrids 2027: peak night & viewing forecast

Reliable spring shower with occasional bright fireballs.

See the live viewing map for the Lyrids →

Key facts

Peak night (2027)
Thu, Apr 22
Active period
Wed, Apr 14 – Fri, Apr 30
ZHR (ideal-sky ceiling)
18/hr
Moon on peak night
🌖 94%
Meteor speed
49 km/s
Parent body
C/1861 G1 (Thatcher)

Frequently asked

When do the Lyrids peak in 2027?

The Lyrids reach maximum activity on the night of Thu, Apr 22, 2027 (computed from the shower's solar-longitude peak, the method the International Meteor Organization uses). The shower is active from Wed, Apr 14 to Fri, Apr 30.

How many meteors will I actually see?

The often-quoted ZHR of 18 is a theoretical ceiling (perfectly dark sky, radiant overhead). Real counts depend on your sky: from a dark-sky site expect a meaningful fraction of that; from a suburb, far fewer. Meteorcast computes the expected visible rate for your exact spot and night.

What about the moon during the 2027 peak?

The moon is 94% illuminated on the peak night — close to full — only the brightest meteors will punch through.

Where should I watch from?

Somewhere dark, with an open sky and clear weather. Use the live map to compare cloud forecast, air transparency, and light pollution anywhere in North America, and to find ranked dark-sky sites near you.

Other meteor showers

Peak times computed from the shower's solar longitude (IMO method) with precession correction; moon illumination from high-precision ephemeris. Forecasts on the live map combine ECMWF, GFS, and ICON weather models with smoke, transparency, and light-pollution analysis.