The Lyrid meteor shower has officially begun and the spectacular peak of the sky show, where hundreds of shooting stars and „fireballs” will fill the night sky, is scheduled to begin this weekend. But what are lyrids? When exactly do they peak? And where is the best place to look for them?
First observed by humans about 2,700 years ago, the Lyrids are one of the oldest recorded meteor showers. NASA. They are not as spectacular as some other meteor showers Perseids. At best, however, Lyrids are known to produce bright explosive space rocks Fireball meteorsand leave continuous trails of light, called meteor trains, that last across the sky for several seconds.
These come from the dusty trail left behind by meteorites Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, which orbits the Sun every 415.5 years. Once a year, Earth passes through the comet's expansive debris field, leaving fragments of debris comet Burning up in our atmosphere, it gives the appearance of shooting stars racing across the night sky.
The annual event usually lasts about two weeks in April, but is more prominent during the roughly all-day peak. This year, Lyrits will begin on April 15 and continue until April 29. However, they will peak between Sunday (April 21) and Monday (April 22).
Typically, dozens of meteors light up the sky every hour during this period, according to NASA. But the shower is also known for rare waves that can bring up to 100 meteors an hour. However, this has only happened a few times in the last 200 years.
Related: How many meteors hit Earth each year?
Unfortunately, this year's peak coincides with an almost full „pink moon.” It will be completed on April 23. As a result, light from our cosmic companion will obscure much of the peak, meaning the meteors won't be as spectacular as other years. Earthsky reported.
But don't let this put you off.
The best time to see Lyrids is at dawn on April 22 the moon There is very little. At this point, you'll still be able to see dozens of bright meteors — as long as there's not too much cloud cover or light pollution near you.
Rain can be seen with the naked eye anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere. too Best binoculars And Stargazing telescopes Your view is only obstructed during a meteor shower – there are many, many better ones Chances of seeing the star in 2024 Use them.
The radius of meteors — the point in the sky where they appear to arrive — is around Vega In the constellation Lyra, also known as the Harp – but they appear anywhere in the sky. Vega is one of the brightest stars in the sky, so it shouldn't be too hard to find. However, NASA recommends that you look slightly away from the beam so you can see long, extended shooting stars. If you look at the head, they look very jagged.
For the best views, head to the City Lights Viewpoint. You can consult Light pollution map Find the darkest areas with the best chances of seeing shooting stars.
If you missed the peak, don't worry. If you go out and look for at least half an hour or so on nights on either side of the summit, you'll be able to see at least one of these space rocks twinkling in the sky.
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