.png)
The promised Lyrid meteor shower has returned! Skywatchers can catch a glimpse of these stunning meteors shooting through the sky. Lyrids come from the Lyra constellation, which is near the star Vega. Some spectacular meteors are streaking the sky from a distance. It may be viewed with the naked eye; however, using a telescope can impair your vision. These are one of the earliest known meteor showers, dating back around 2700 years. These Lyrids will astound skywatchers with bursts of up to 100 meteors every hour.
What Is The Lyrid Meteor Shower?
According to Space.com, Lyrids are created by debris from Comet Thatcher (C/1861 G1), which orbits the Sun every 415 years. The shooting star effect is caused by particles impacting the atmosphere at high speeds when the Earth passes through the comet's dust track. Even if these meteors aren't the brightest, they nevertheless make for an eye-catching moment.
When Can You See These Lyrids?
These are active from April 15 to 29, but the finest display will occur in the early morning hours of April 22. The meteors will peak between 3:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., right before dawn. Escape the city lights and travel to the countryside via a park, mountain, or beach walk. Remember to be safe and let someone know where you're going. However, instead of traveling alone, you may bring your pals along. For half an hour, adjust your eyes to the darkness and experiment with using red light for night vision.
The declining moon will not be visible until about 3:30 a.m. local time, so it will not outshine the feeble meteors. If you are fortunate enough, you can see for 15 to 20 metres under a black sky.
Lyrids are notorious for their uncommon surprise outbursts, so it's worth waiting to see them in the sky. It brings spring to the northern hemisphere. So, the wait is over; get ready for the shower on April 22!
#lyridmeterorshower2025 #nightsky #space
