One of spring’s most prominent “shooting star” groups reaches a climax tonight (April 21-22).
The famous Lyrid meteor shower will be visible in the Northern Hemisphere from about 22:30 local time and will continue overnight, weather permitting in your area. The best visibility will probably be before dawn, after the hazy moon has set; otherwise you may disturb the moonlight.
The individual meteors, or small space rocks, of the Lyrids appear as the earth moves in its orbit around the sun, in the dusty track of a long-lived comet called Thatcher, a plow that swings through the earth every 415 years (the last in 1861 , exactly 160 years ago).
Related: Lyrid meteor shower 2021: When, where and how to see it
The radiation, or point from which the stars appear, appears to be high above the horizon in the Lyra constellation. You can find Lyra by searching for Vega, one of the brightest stars in the northern sky. However, look slightly away from Lyra, as the meteors with the longest routes will appear far beyond the constellation.
You do not need telescopes or binoculars to look at a meteorite mood; your eyes will do. Dress warmly (April is still very cold in many US regions) and go outside about 20 minutes before you plan to start your observations, to give your eyes time to adjust to the darkness. Move away from the outdoor lights you can, and use, if possible, a seat to prevent neck pain while looking at the sky.
Technically, the Lyrids continue until April 30, but NASA meteorologist Bill Cooke told Space.com that you should see most meteors Wednesday through Thursday morning (April 21 to April 22). “Get up early before dawn, after the moon has set. You have a good chance of seeing Lyrids this year,” Cooke said.
However, NASA warns that the window of ideal viewing time on Thursday is very short – probably only half an hour before the sky clears locally just before 5am.
Cooke predicted that skywatchers would see about 18 meteors per hour – depending on how dark your sky is, so get away from light pollution where you can (and if it is safe to do so, as many world regions are currently under pandemic quarantines). .)
Related: How to see the best meteorite showers of 2021
The predicted amount of visible meteors this year is well within the normal range of 15 to 20 meteors per hour. Occasionally, Lyrid meteor shower may produce bursts of up to 100 meteors per hour, but Cooke said the forecast for this year is highly unlikely. Previous prominent meteor showers were in 1803, 1922 (96 per hour) and in 1982 (80 per hour); The event of 1803 was particularly spectacular when the residents of Richmond, Virginia, left their beds to see a shower apparently coming from all parts of the sky.
Any meteors you may see this year are likely to stand out. Skywatching columnist Joe Rao says the meteors are bright and fast, moving through the atmosphere at average speeds of 48 kilometers per second. About a quarter of the individual meteors will leave large trains over the air, perhaps as many as five to ten such meteors during a night of excellent conditions around the peak shower date.
Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.