It is the best view of the spring sky: Lyridid’s annual meteor shower is back, offering people through the northern hemisphere the opportunity to catch fleeting stars in the night sky.
The meteor rain began on April 16, but will reach its maximum point on Monday night and until the morning hours of Tuesday. The climate that allows, the observers of the skies could see up to 15 fleeting stars per hour during that period, provided they are in a dark place.
Lyrids are usually one of the most reliable meteorite showers of the year, and their time coincides with more temperate spring temperatures in the northern hemisphere, which makes them a popular heavenly show.
This year’s peak occurs with a growing moon that will be full of approximately 27%, according to NASA, which means that fleeting stars are less likely to be dragged by bright light.
To better enjoy the top, NASA recommends seeing outside from Monday night at any time after 10 pm, local time until dawn the next morning, with an optimal point at 5 am local time on Tuesday. But at any time late on Monday night and before the moon rises during the night around 3:30 am, local time, it must offer good chances of seeing meteors scratch in the night sky.
Lyrids are generally observed more clearly from the northern hemisphere, but the observers of the sky with eagle eyes in the southern hemisphere can see some fleeting stars, according to NASA.
If the conditions are clear, it is better to choose an observation location without obstructions under the darkest skies possible, far from the lights of the city and other forms of light pollution.
Heaven observers must face the east and look forward. Meteorites can scratch from any point and it is known that Lyrids occasionally leave bright paths while throwing themselves through the night sky.
Meteorite showers can be enjoyed without any special equipment, but experts suggest giving their eyes time to adapt to darkness, spending about 45 minutes without looking at cell phones or no bright point of light.
Meteorite showers occur when the earth passes through rubble bits that remain of comets or asteroids. As our planet orbits the sun and swings through these clouds of rocks and dust, the pieces vaporize in the atmosphere and appear as light stripes in the sky.
The Lyrids are caused by debris of a kite known as C/1861 G1, or Comet Thatcher, named for the amateur astronomer Alfred E. Thatcher, who observed the kite for the first time in 1861.
After its beak, Lyrid’s meteor rain will continue on display until April 29.
