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Seen since ancient China
A Chinese chronicle entry from around 687 BC describes stars falling like rain, which is generally taken to be the Lyrids. That would make this one of the oldest meteor showers on record. The comet that feeds it, Thatcher, was only discovered in 1861, and it needs about 415 years to complete one orbit.
So every Lyrid you see is a piece of a comet that has not passed Earth for ages, laid down over thousands of years.
Modest, with a surprise in reserve
On a normal year expect around 15 to 20 meteors an hour from a dark site. Now and then the shower surprises: outbursts in 1982 and in earlier centuries briefly raised the rate to about 100 an hour. Nobody can predict them well, which is why the shower is worth a look even when the forecast is average.
Lyrids are medium-speed and often leave a faint glowing trail that lingers for a second or two.
Finding the radiant
The radiant sits close to Vega, the bright blue-white star of the constellation Lyra the Lyre. Vega rises in the northeast in the late evening in April and climbs high before dawn, so the best viewing is the pre-dawn stretch. Face the east or northeast, and let Vega sit somewhere in the corner of your view.
Their speed is about 49 km per second, a little slower than the Perseids. Because the shower is modest, even a thin crescent of moonlight makes a noticeable difference to the count.
A spring checklist
- Pick a dark site. April is mild, so it is a good time to try dark-sky watching for the first time.
- Plan for late night to dawn. The radiant is highest then.
- Watch the Moon. The table shows how much light it will add on the peak night.
- Be patient. Rates are steady but low, so a long sit rewards you more than a quick glance. A deckchair and a flask turn the wait into part of the evening.
Next on the calendar
Within weeks comes the southern favourite, the Eta Aquariids. See the full list on the meteor showers hub.
Questions people ask
How strong are the Lyrids?
Normally around 18 meteors an hour under ideal skies, though occasional outbursts have been much stronger.
Who discovered the parent comet?
A. E. Thatcher, an American amateur astronomer, found Comet Thatcher in 1861.
Are the Lyrids visible from the southern hemisphere?
Yes, though the radiant stays lower, so the rates are reduced.