How to spot the Lyrid meteor shower that is peaking this week
Summary
The Lyrid meteor shower will reach its peak late Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning, offering 10 to 20 shooting stars per hour. The event will be seen worldwide, with the best views in the Northern Hemisphere, and a thin crescent moon will not interfere with the visibility.Key Facts
- The Lyrid meteor shower occurs when Earth passes through debris from comet Thatcher.
- The comet itself is visible only once every 415 years, but its debris passes Earth annually.
- The shower is one of the oldest recorded, with sightings over 2,500 years ago.
- Meteors appear as streaks of light caused by small space particles burning up in the atmosphere.
- The best viewing time is after midnight, away from city lights and tall buildings.
- Eyes need about 15 to 30 minutes to adjust to the dark for better visibility.
- Meteors seem to come from the constellation Lyra, located in the northeastern sky.
- The next major meteor shower, the Eta Aquarids, will happen in early May.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
