In addition to a Supermoon and warming spring air, April comes with tidings of space bricks. From April 16, Earth will traverse the tail of comet C / 1861 G1 Thatcher, which will see the Lyrid meteor shower across the night sky. Of course, this is not the same as looking up to see the looming moon hovering above us, but more an exercise in patience, as meteors are much more volatile than other celestial phenomena.
Here’s what you need to know about the Lyrids and how to watch them later this month.
What are the Lyrids?
The Lyrids get their name from the constellation Lyra, which ‘is related to the myth of the Greek musician and poet Orpheus’. according to Constellation Guide. The constellation hangs in the northern sky just below the star Vega, which is visible in the summer sky forms a “star known as the Summer Triangle”, together with the stars Deneb and Altair, Space.com notes.
The Lyrids are a welcome sight for meteor hunters who are hungry for their favorite heavenly sights from January to mid-April. But eMuch April, as the earth passes through the rubble left by the tail of the C / 1861 G1 Thatcher, the Lyrids chase over the air.
By EarthSky, the Lyrids is an annual institution that is usually active for about nine days. This year, the peak is expected to take place on or around April 19th. Here are the experts:
The Lyrids are active each year from about April 16 to 25. In 2021, we expect the shower to start again late at night on Monday 19 April, which is likely to peak on Thursday 22 April in the next morning (April). 23) can also be good if you are a gamer.
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In general, the meteors between moon and dawn will be active.
One useful tip: look for the radiation point
The Lyrids will make you lust for meteors, but just not. This is not exactly a madness, as it usually only occurs in currents of about 10 to 15 per hour. (Sometimes they can overwhelm the sky in groups of about 100 per hour, but such a sight is Rare).
One way to make sure you do catch the Lyrids is to track down Vega, the brilliant star that illuminates the meteorites at their peak. According to EarthSky, it’s all about when the radiation point – in this case Vega – rises. You can find Vega if you ‘look northeast at night for a bright, bluish star above the northeastern horizon.’ As far as people in the Northern Hemisphere are concerned, it is usually between nine and 10 p.m. local time. If you’re in the Southern Hemisphere, your chances of getting the show at the best glitter depend on how early you get up (or what time you stay up).
As Earth Sky explains:
Because the radiant point of this shower is so far north on the dome of the sky, the star Vega only rises in the hours before dawn, for you. It will be lower in the air for you than for us further north on the globe when dawn arrives. Therefore, you see fewer Lyrid meteors. Still, you might see some!
The same protocol applies if you create the best conditions to catch meteors. Avoid light pollution, look up north, and welcomes 2021’s first burning space rock.