The Lyrid meteor shower is set to dazzle skygazers this week, offering a spectacular display enhanced by a dim crescent moon. According to NASA, stargazers could witness between 10 and 20 shooting stars per hour streaking across the spring sky when the celestial event reaches its peak from Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.
While visible globally, the Northern Hemisphere is expected to provide the best viewing opportunities. The crescent moon will not hinder the spectacle, as it is predicted to set before the shower truly begins.
Meteor showers occur when Earth traverses through trails of debris left behind by space rocks. These fragments ignite upon entering the atmosphere, creating the fiery streaks commonly known as shooting stars. The Lyrids are the remnants of an icy comet named Thatcher.
“We only get to see the actual comet once every 415 years. But we pass through the grains that have been left in its wake every year around the same time,” said Maria Valdes, a meteorite researcher at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
A handful of random meteors are visible on any given night. At predictable times throughout the year, enough can be seen at once to make a more exciting spectacle. The Lyrids are one of the oldest recorded meteor showers, with reported sightings dating back over 2,500 years.
How to Watch the Lyrid Meteor Shower
To see the Lyrids, go outside after midnight and venture away from tall buildings and city lights. Royal Museums Greenwich recommends looking for meteors early Wednesday morning after the Moon has set, from 2am onwards.
It will take at least 15 to 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the nighttime sky. Remember to resist looking at your phone. Bring lawn chairs or a sleeping bag and be patient until the meteors reveal themselves. They will appear to come from the constellation Lyra in the northeastern sky.
“A meteor looks like a trail of light in the sky. What you tend to detect is the motion against the background,” said astronomer Lisa Will from San Diego City College.
The Lyrids should be visible until 25 April. The next major shower, the Eta Aquarids (debris from Halley's comet), is approaching in early May.
