- The Lyrid meteor shower reaches its peak early Thursday morning. People can notice 10 to 20 meteors per hour.
- Meteors are remnants of a nearby comet and burn when they enter our atmosphere.
- The moon will be more than half full, so seeing the shower will be difficult. Here’s how to watch.
- See more articles on the Insider business page.
The first meteor shower in the spring reaches its peak on Thursday morning.
The Lyrid meteor shower, which occurs at the end of April each year, occurs when the Earth passes through the tail of a comet. As the comet’s debris enters our planet’s atmosphere, it burns, leaving streaks in the sky that are visible to the naked eye for a few seconds.
When the Lyrids peak, people can expect to see between 10 and 20 meteors every hour. These meteors often leave behind “bright dust trains” as they disintegrate, according to NASA.
The moon is more than half full this week, which will make it harder to identify shooting stars. Here are some tips to catch Lyrids in action.
Get out early Thursday morning, before sunrise
Lyrid meteor shower over the ancient city of Aizanoi in Kutahya, Turkey, on April 23, 2014.
Fatma Selma Kocabas Aydin / Anadolu Agency / Getty
The best time to see Lyrids is in the early morning, Thursday, April 22, before sunrise.
Waiting for the rising moon – about 4 a.m. on the east coast of the United States – will make it easier to see meteors and their dust trains. Otherwise, the bright glow of the almost full moon (it will be 68% full on Thursday) can hide the meteor streaks.
Go to an area away from city or street lights and bring a sleeping bag or blanket. You don’t need to pack a telescope or binoculars, because meteor showers are best seen with the naked eye.
“Sit flat on your back, with your feet facing east and looking up, taking as much of the sky as possible,” NASA said. “After about 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adjust and you will start to see meteors.”
Falling stars can appear anywhere in the sky, but if you need a reference point, look at the harp-like constellation Lyp, from which Lyrids often appear to emerge. (That’s how they get their name.)
If you miss the show on Thursday morning, there will be more meteors to see on Friday. In fact, this year’s Lyrid meteor shower will continue until April 30. It usually ends by April 25.
One of the oldest known meteor showers
Don Pettit, an astronaut aboard the International Space Station, photographed a Lyrid meteorite on April 1, 2012.
NASA / JSC / D. Pettit
Mankind has known about the Lyrid meteor shower for almost three millennia: the first observation dates from 687 BC. in China, according to NASA.
Meteors come from a comet called Thatcher, named after the astronomer who first identified the space rock in 1861.
It takes Thatcher 415 years to orbit the sun (we won’t see him again until 2276). As it surrounds the solar system, Thatcher’s tail leaves behind traces and remnants of comet particles.
Every April, the Earth passes through Thatcher’s wreckage and is bombarded with comet garbage for two weeks – making it a dazzling meteor shower.
After the passage of the Lyrids, there are 11 more meteor showers to take care of this year. One of the most popular, the Perseids, will reach its peak on the night of August 11th.