“The Lyrids are really unpredictable,” Cooke said lead astronomer of NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office. “For the 2015 shower, I’m expecting 15 to 20 Lyrid meteors an hour. Peak rates should occur after 10:30 PM on April 22 your local time, for observers in the northern hemisphere. For observers in the southern hemisphere, Lyrid rates are not significant until after midnight your local time.”



Lyrids are best seen around 4 a.m. your local time in the northern hemisphere.  Tonight, the Moon is in a crescent phase and will set near mid-night. This dark near-moonless sky will provide excellent conditions for viewing tonight’s meteor shower.

The Lyrid meteor shower will be viewable all over the world, with best rates seen just before midnight local time at the location where you’re watching the skies.  The number of Lyrids are very unpredictable, with peak meteor rates between 10-100 per hour.   Cloudless skies and far away from city lights are ideal for watching meteor showers.