The oldest known meteor shower, the annual Lyrids shower, will be making its return this year with its peak between April 22 and 23. Stargazers with a clear morning sky will be able to see 10 to 20 meteors per hour.
The annual shower often falls between April 16 and 25. This year, it is going to hit its highest point in the hours prior to dawn of April 23. The meteor shower will be particularly clear this year because of a waxing crescent moon on those dates, making the sky a little darker.
While those living in the U.K. will have a better view of the shower, people all across the U.S. will still get to watch, particularly those in northern and eastern states such as Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New York. The Lyrids can be viewed in California, Arizona, and other states but only with clearer skies.
According to the IBTimes, people in London would be able to get a better view of the shower at the WaterWorks Nature Preserve. In New York, people can flock to the Carl Schurz Park, home of Astronomers Association meetings.
The Lyrids have been observed for a recorded 2,600 years. The particles of the meteor shower originate from the Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher comet. As the comet passes, debris is shed off and appears in the sky as a meteor shower. There are times when the Earth passes through a large group of debris, giving off a more spectacular show.
For those who do not have clear skies on April 22 and 23, or for those who are not in the northern hemisphere, the Lyrids meteor shower will be streamed live via Slooh. NASA will also allow online users to watch the Slooh broadcast.
