The Lyrid meteor shower is visible now and peaking soon. Here’s how to spot it
Summary
The Lyrid meteor shower will reach its peak on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, with 10 to 20 meteors visible per hour. The event will be best seen in the Northern Hemisphere, and a crescent moon will not interfere with the view.Key Facts
- The Lyrid meteor shower happens when Earth passes through debris left by comet Thatcher.
- The comet itself appears only every 415 years, but its debris passes Earth annually.
- Meteors are bright streaks caused by space debris burning up in the atmosphere.
- The Lyrids are one of the oldest meteor showers, with records going back over 2,500 years.
- Viewing is best after midnight, away from city lights and tall buildings.
- Meteors appear to come from the constellation Lyra in the northeastern sky.
- The next major meteor shower is the Eta Aquarids in early May, from debris of Halley’s comet.
- A dim crescent moon will set before the meteor shower starts, providing dark skies for better visibility.
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