Look up, astronomy fans; The Lyrid meteor shower is expected to peak overnight Sunday into Monday, according to NASA.
The moon will be in its waxing gibbous stage as the full moon approaches, making it difficult to see meteors. Even in ideal conditions, away from city lights, only a few meteors per hour should be visible to the naked eye.
“For a dedicated observer, it may be worth observing members of one of the oldest known meteor showers: the Lyrids have been observed for 2,700 years,” NASA wrote in an article.
When and where to see the Lyrid meteor shower
The best time to observe the meteor shower is at night from Sunday to Monday. EarthSky recommends that viewers go to areas where the sky is as dark and clear as possible. Spectators should try to stand in the moon’s shadow to observe it.
“If you can block the view of the moon, while still having some sky to see the meteors, you might see some of the brighter Lyrids passing by in the moonlight,” EarthSky reported. “Remember that even a bright meteor can brighten up your night!”
The Lyrids are known for surges that can generate up to 100 meteors per hour, but viewers are unlikely to see that many this year due to the bright moon, notes EarthSky. Viewers can see 10 to 15 Lyrids per hour in a dark, moonless sky.
What are meteor showers?
Meteors – space rocks that enter Earth’s atmosphere – streak across the sky every night. During meteor showers, which occur several times a year, many meteors strike the Earth’s atmosphere over a short period of time. As meteors pass through Earth’s atmosphere, they leave behind trails of light caused by hot, glowing air.
While most meteors burn up as they fall, some survive the journey and reach Earth. They are meteorites.
Look up: what else can you see in the sky this spring?
Astronomy fans can experience Pink this month as the April full moon rises. April’s full moon will reach peak illumination at 7:49 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, but it will appear full Monday morning through Thursday morning, according to NASA. The Old Farmer’s Almanac details specific moonrise times for different zip codes across the United States.
The Eta Aquariids meteor shower is estimated to peak from Saturday, May 4 to Sunday, May 5. NASA notes that these meteors are known for their speed. There won’t be much interference in the moonlight during the Eta Aquariids meteor shower.
May’s full moon, the Flower Moon, reaches peak illumination on May 23.
Grub5
