Stargazers in Colorado have a special treat during the early morning hours of Earth Day 2021, as the annual Lyrid meteor shower reaches its highest activity level. The meteoric series will peak during the late evening of Wednesday, April 21, and continue until the early morning hours of Thursday, April 22 – Earth Day.
Expect about 10 to 15 shooting stars per hour across the night sky during the Lyrid meteor shower. According to the American Meteor Society, the moon will be 68 percent full tonight, which could affect visibility.
Although persistent trains are often missing, the Lyrids can deliver extra bright meteors, also known as fireballs. The shower is also known for its rare eruptions that shoot up to 100 shooting stars per hour through the night sky.
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“The rare eruptions are not easy to predict, but they are one of the reasons why the tyrannical Lyrids are worth checking out,” writes EarthSky.org.
The meteorite mood will be active between Friday, April 16 and Friday, April 30, 2021. The visibility will vary in the state depending on the moonlight and the current weather conditions.
Get somewhere dark, give your eyes at least 20 minutes to adjust, and sit back and enjoy a spectacular stargazing!
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