Stargazers will be treated to a new celestial spectacle this weekend as the Lyrid meteor shower will illuminate the night sky and early morning sky on Friday and Saturday. Starting on April 15, the meteor shower will last until April 29, with the peak occurring on April 22. Onlookers may expect to see up to 20 meteors per hour during this period. Because the Moon will be two-thirds full tonight, it is essential to keep in mind that this might impair the visibility of the Lyrid meteor shower.
Lyrid Meteor Shower 2023
In late April, the Lyrid meteor shower reaches its apex, and skywatchers in the Northern Hemisphere will get a clear glimpse of the dusty trail left behind by a comet orbiting the Sun for hundreds of years. Weather allowing, skywatchers will have a good chance of seeing the Lyrid meteors as they flash across the sky between April 14 and 30.
According to NASA meteor researcher Bill Cooke, it is expected that the peak of the Lyrid meteor shower will occur on the night of April 22.
The Moon will be in a waning gibbous phase around this period, and it will be about 61 percent lit during the height of the Lyrids, making it possible that moonlight may interfere with observations.
Lyrid Meteor Shower
It is believed that the Lyrids meteor shower, named after the constellation Lyra, is one of the world’s earliest meteor showers, having been seen more than 2,500 years ago, according to certain ancient manuscripts. It takes around 415 years for comet Thatcher to complete its cycle around the Sun, which results in the meteor shower’s fireballs being formed by debris. In 2276, the comet is projected to be seen from Earth for the first time since its discovery.
How to see the Lyrid Meteor Shower?
Viewing a meteor shower does not need the use of any special equipment or a high level of expertise. Even though all you need to observe a meteor shower is a clear sky, a lot of patience, and a helpful Interactive Meteor Shower Sky Map with a visibility conditions meter. The following recommendations may help you get the most out of your meteor shower watching experience.
- Find a discreet viewing location away from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis. Once you arrive at the site, it may take 15 to 20 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dim lighting.
- Dress appropriately for the weather and ensure comfortable, particularly if you expect to be out for an extended period. It’s good to have a blanket or a comfy chair with you since meteor gazing might seem like a waiting game.
- Once you’ve located a suitable viewing location, lay down on the ground and gaze up at the sky. Using our Interactive Meteor Shower Sky Map or the chart above, you can figure out which direction your meteor shower will be coming from. The higher your shower’s radiant is above the horizon, the more meteors you will likely witness.
- The radiant is thought to be the source of meteor showers. However, meteors may occur anywhere in the sky.
Lyrid Meteor Shower Details
The radiant point of the Draconid meteor shower is located in the northern sky, at the head of the constellation Draco the Dragon. It is known as the Draconid meteor shower. For this reason, the Draconids are best seen from the Northern Hemisphere. At nightfall in October, the orientation of this chart is northward.
The Great Bear is located low in the northwest sky. In October, obstacles on the northern horizon may prevent you from seeing the Big Dipper if you are in the southern United States or a corresponding latitude. From a location farther south, such as the Southern Hemisphere, you will not be able to view the Big Dipper in the evening at this time of year. However, if you can find it low in the sky, you may utilize the Big Dipper to star-hop to Polaris, located near the North Pole.
Polaris is the star that marks the end of the Little Dipper’s handle. Also visible around sunset in early October should be Eltanin and Rastaban, the Draconids’ radiant point, which may be seen in the northwest sky high in the northwest sky. Draconid meteors originate in the vicinity of these stars, which are referred to as the Dragon’s Eyes.
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I saw a white vertical lighting just yesterday in india so quick
Weird
I thought it was ufo lol
Well I’ve been sitting on my chair under the insanely beautiful night sky in hope of enjoying the meteor shower and have got no clear view at all. I’m impatient and super excited to get to see it.