If you’re a fan of stargazing, make sure you mark tomorrow evening off in your diary.
Tomorrow night the Lyrid Meteor Shower is set to peak, providing you with the perfect opportunity to see a shooting star.
The Lyrids peaks every April, but this year will peak on the night of April 21 and the early hours of April 22.
The Lyrid Meteor Shower usually produces around 20 meteors per hour at its peak, meaning that if you’re prepared, there’s a fairly good chance you’ll be able to see one!
Here’s everything you need to know about the Lyrid Meteor Shower, including what it is and how to increase your chances of seeing a shooting star.
When is the Lyrid Meteor Shower?
This year, the Lyrid Meteor Shower will peak on the evening of April 21 and the early hours of April 22.
For your best chance of seeing a shooting, look to the skies after midnight.
What is the Lyrid Meteor Shower?
The Lyrids are one of the oldest known meteor showers, having been observed for over 2,700 years!
The meteors come from leftover particles from Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, and bits from broken asteroids.
NASA explained: “When comets come around the sun, they leave a dusty trail behind them.
“Every year the Earth passes through these debris trails, which allows the bits to collide with our atmosphere where they disintegrate to create fiery and colourful streaks in the sky.”
Where to look in the sky
The Lyrids’ radiant - the point in the sky from which the shooting stars appear to come from - is in the constellation Lyra.
However, it’s actually better to view the Lyrids away from their radiant.
NASA explained: “Lyrids appear to particularly radiate out from the star Vega—Vega is the brightest star within this constellation. (Helpful Hint: Vega is one of the brightest stars in the night sky and is easy to spot in even light-polluted areas.) The constellation of Lyra is also where we get the name for the shower: Lyrids.”
Tips to see a shooting star
While we’d usually advise heading into the countryside away from light pollution to increase your chance of seeing a shooting star, during the coronavirus lockdown that’s not possible for most people.
Instead, try to turn off all the lights in your house and head out into the garden.
NASA advised: “Come prepared with a sleeping bag, blanket or lawn chair. Lie flat on your back with your feet facing east and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible.
“After about 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors. Be patient—the show will last until dawn, so you have plenty of time to catch a glimpse.”
