NASA Invites: Enjoy the Lyrid Meteor Shower, Peaking April 21–22

The constellation Lyra, visible in the northern sky, has long been associated with music, as it’s named after the lyre — a harp-like musical instrument. It is also from this constellation that the annual Lyrid meteor shower appears to radiate, with this year’s peak expected on the night of April 21 into the early morning of April 22.

With this musical connection in mind, skywatchers are encouraged to tune into their favorite playlists and enjoy the celestial show that April brings, known for its fast and bright meteors.

A Meteor Shower Full of Surprises

Although the Lyrids aren’t as intense as the popular Perseids in August, they have surprised observers during exceptional years by producing up to 100 meteors per hour. NASA recorded particularly heavy showers in 1803 (Virginia), 1922 (Greece), 1945 (Japan), and 1982 (U.S.).Typically, the Lyrids produce about 10 to 20 meteors per hour at their peak.

These meteors usually don’t leave long-lasting dust trails, but they can occasionally create bright flashes known as fireballs.

You’ll start to see Lyrids after 10 p.m. local time, said Bill Cooke, head of NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. “This year, light from the crescent Moon shouldn’t interfere much with viewing, but it’s best to keep the Moon behind you for optimal observation.

According to Cooke, you can expect to see around five to six meteors per hour at about 4:30 a.m., when the radiant — the point in the sky from which the meteors appear to come — is high. Find a location away from city or street lights, bring a blanket, lie on your back, and look up at the sky. “After less than 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adjust, and you’ll start seeing meteors,” Cooke added.

Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through trails of debris left behind by comets or fragments of asteroids. These particles collide with our atmosphere and burn up, creating colorful streaks across the sky. The Lyrids originate from comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, discovered by A. E. Thatcher on April 5, 1861.

Where the Lyrids Appear in the Sky

Their radiant is near the star Vega, the brightest in the Lyra constellation and one of the brightest in the night sky.

Interestingly, the best views are not directly at the radiant. Watching from an angle allows the meteors to appear longer and more dramatic. Looking straight at Vega may make them appear shorter.

So get ready — April’s sky will put on a beautiful show, and it invites you to watch.

Read the original article on: Nasa

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