Observe the Lyrid meteor shower, which will reach its peak this week. The best viewing time is from midnight until dawn, when up to 20 shooting stars can be seen per hour.
Hello from Costa Rica!
The Lyrid meteor shower is underway and is expected to peak on the night of April 21-22.
With the moon in the sky and its peak centered around 4 p.m. EDT on April 22, observers in low-light conditions could see 15 to 20 meteors, or shooting stars, in an hour from midnight to early morning Wednesday. Second good viewing opportunity after Wednesday night.
Every year around this time, Earth passes through a stream of debris left behind by Comet Thatcher. As our planet moves through a cloud of cometary dust, particles collide with the atmosphere and flare up, creating what we see as shooting stars or shooting stars.
These comet fragments travel at about 108,000 miles per hour and hit Earth’s atmosphere about 130 miles above Earth, heating the air and emitting an incandescent glow.
The parent comet will not come to us again until around 2283.
No special equipment is required to enjoy the show. Just find a dark spot where you can lie down on a lounge chair or blanket and watch the sky. From around midnight, head northeast and look for the constellation Lyra. Lyra begins low on the horizon and rises higher as the night progresses.
The bright star Vega in the constellation Lyra is on the left, near the region of the sky from which Lyra appears to have come. The meteors that are part of the shower, called radiators, can be traced back to the constellation Lyra. Sporadic meteors that are not part of the meteor shower can also be seen at night.
The constellation Lyra can appear anywhere in the sky, but looking directly up will give you the widest view. In this case, a lounge chair or blanket will come in handy.
Even if you live in a city, you can spot the brightest constellation Lyra as long as you avoid streetlights and tall buildings. Even if you can’t go to the observation site or it’s cloudy, you can still observe the meteor shower in a very innovative and cool way.
As I write this, I’m listening to Meteor Radar. Yes, it’s a radar that scans for incoming meteors as well as satellites and space debris.
It’s a fascinating method. I just heard it. —To monitor meteor showers like the Lyrids. Basically, the louder the ping, the brighter the meteor in the sky.
By listening at https://www.livemeteors.com/ you can listen day and night and even on cloudy days (forecast for the first few hours on Wednesday).
Enjoy the meteor shower with your family, friends, and loved ones. Some food and drinks can further enhance your experience. Temperatures can drop at night, so please dress in layers.
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