Those taking to the stars for the annual coming of the Lyrids have Comet Thatcher to thank.
Like twinkling breadcrumbs in the thermosphere, the yearly light show that occurs just 50 or so miles above our heads was originally produced by the same cosmic collision that created the Comet Thatcher, last seen by Earthlings in the year 1861.
Around that time, it was astronomers Edmund Weiss and Johann Gottfried Galle who discovered it was no coincidence that the two celestial entities shared an orbit. And although we’re treated to this spectacle of shooting stars annually, the mighty Thatcher won’t be seen in our neck of the solar system again until the year 2276.
The Lyrids can be unpredictable. It’s typical to see an average range of 10 to 20 meteors per hour. However, some years have seen the rate skyrocket, up to 90 to 100 per hour. According to NASA researchers, we won’t likely see such a fertile year again until 2040 and 2041.
When is the Lyrid meteor shower?
Look up — they may already be there. Hurtling toward Earth at 110,000 miles per hour, the Lyrids were scheduled to make their pass beginning April 14, continuing through April 30. So if you haven’t dusted off your lawn chairs just yet this season, now would be a good time because meteor traffic peaks this week.
What time is the Lyrid meteor shower tonight?
The mornings of April 22 and 23, Thursday and Friday mornings, are primetime according to EarthSky.org. Due to a bright, waxing moon this week, it’s the roughly three hours between moonset, which varies by region, and just before sunrise that provide darkest viewing conditions.
Where to look for the Lyrid meteor shower?
As with any reason to skywatch, fair weather and low ambient light is key. Unfortunately, much of New England as well as New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania should expect some cloud cover, and rain higher north. There are cloud systems brewing over the Great Lakes region and the Midwest, too, though not much rain is expected.
What direction is the Lyrid meteor shower?
Savvy skywatchers know to look for a the shower’s radiant point, or the spot in the sky at which the meteors seem to enter view. In this case, it’s somewhere around the constellation Lyra the Harp, near the star Vega.
So long as the clouds have given way to some pockets of sky, the Lyrids are big and bright enough for anyone to see with the naked eye — which is recommended for the average stargazer as telescopes and binoculars, while brilliantly magnifying, will also limit the field of view. Just be sure to give your eyes about 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness.