Now that eclipse mania is out of the way, it’s time to turn our eyes to the skies for the Lyrids meteor shower.
This annual celestial event is one of the oldest-known meteor showers on record and unlike the eclipse, which was mainly viewable in North America, the Lyrids are visible almost around the world. The event occurs between April 16-25 every year and this year’s peak is expected to fall on April 21-22.
Named for the nearby constellation Lyra, the Lyrid meteor shower is composed of pieces of debris from the Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher. The comet is named for A. E. Thatcher, who discovered it in 1861.
According to NASA, meteor showers occur when Earth passes through debris trails left by comets and other space objects. The debris – known as meteoroids – collides with Earth’s atmosphere at high speed and disintegrates, creating fiery and colorful streaks in the sky. Those fireballs that we often call “shooting stars,” are meteors. Those meteoroids that survive their trip to Earth without burning up in the atmosphere are called meteorites.
While NASA notes that the Lyrids can surprise watchers with as many as 100 meteors seen per hour, generally, 10-20 Lyrid meteors can be seen per hour during the peak.
Lyrids don’t tend to leave long glowing dust trains behind them as they streak through the Earth’s atmosphere. However, they can produce the occasional bright flash called a fireball. The Lyrid meteor shower is of medium brightness, but not as luminous as the famous Perseid meteor shower in August, which tends to produce more prominent trails,
According to NASA, the best view of the shower is after moonset and before dawn. Here are tips from the U.S. space agency:
- Pick an area well away from city lights or streetlights.
- Bring a sleeping bag, blanket, or lawn chair.
- Lie flat on your back with your feet facing east and look up.
- Be patient. About 30 minutes in the dark your eyes should adapt, and you should begin to see meteors.
