It is that time of the year again in which the April Lyrid meteor shower lights up the skies, and stargazers can marvel at the beauty of this astronomical phenomenon.
The Lyrids have been giving people a spectacular show annually for 2,600 years. The Lyrid meteor shower occurs as the Earth passes through the orbital path of the C/186 Thatcher comet, which causes bits and pieces of its debris to enter the planet's upper atmosphere. It is said that ancient Chinese astronomers first recorded the Lyrid sighting in 687 B.C. through writing and stated that "at midnight, stars fell like rain."
According to Metro, up to 10 shooting stars can be seen each hour and this year's meteor shower is predicted to be an impressive one, with up to 20 shooting stars per hour during the peak date. The meteor shower will be visible from April 16 to April 25. Viewers need not have special equipment to witness the array of shooting stars over the course of a week because as long as the skies are clear, it can be seen by the naked eye.
The peak date, during which the activity is at its highest, has been reported to be on April 22. According to Earth Sky, the highest number of shooting stars can be seen hours before dawn of the 22nd. These can be more visible in a moonless night sky, but since a slender waning crescent moon will be present at the time of the meteor shower, it will not cause any obstructions to the view.
As per the report on Mirror, the places to get the best view of the astronomical event are in the Northern Hemisphere, particularly in Europe. Also, as usual, the best spots to watch the meteor shower is anywhere without intrusive light pollution.
