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The LYRID meteor shower will be at its peak tonight and in the early hours of tomorrow morning.
If you want to try it out and see for yourself, just follow the steps below.
The best time to see it will be between midnight and dawn.
This year’s peak coincides with Tuesday’s new moon, which means the skies will be especially dark and the meteors will have more visibility.
The Lyrid meteor shower is made of debris falling from Comet Thatcher.
Named after the Lyra constellation, Lyrid is one of the oldest known rains, with visible meteor records dating back 2,700 years.
How to See the Lyrid Meteor Shower
To catch sightings of the lyrids, you will have to get up late, as they will be visible from 10:30 p.m., but will be in full form after midnight, when the lights have gone out.
You can see shooting stars better in a large green space, such as the field, away from any light pollution.
You will not need a telescope or any special equipment to view them.
You can see them from your garden, or even from a well positioned window.
The best time to see the shower is between midnight and sunrise, and they are most visible under dark and light skies.
You probably won’t be able to see it right away.
Try looking northeast and towards the Lyra constellation, as this is where the meteors radiate.
Greenwich Royal Observatory astronomer Ed Bloom said people should be “patient.”
He said, “It could be an hour before you see something, so wrap up and get comfortable in your yard.”
NASA has given some advice on how to make the most of your garden to catch the meteor shower.
They advise: “Come prepared with a sleeping bag, blanket, or lawn chair. Lie on your back with your feet to the east and look up, observing as much of the sky as possible.
“After about 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adjust and you will start to see meteorites. Be patient: the show will last until dawn, so you have plenty of time to take a look.”
So while you won’t be able to leave your home, as long as you can stay awake long enough to catch him and have a blanket to keep you warm, you can still enjoy it from the comfort of your home.
Lyrids are known to show up in previous years at around 100 meteors per hour.
If you miss the shower tonight, don’t worry, as it’s expected on April 30.
What is the difference between an asteroid, a meteorite, and a comet?
Here’s what you need to know, according to NASA …
- Asteroid: An asteroid is a small rocky body that orbits around the Sun. Most are found in the asteroid belt (between Mars and Jupiter), but can be found anywhere (even on a path that can impact Earth)
- Meteoroid: When two asteroids collide with each other, the small pieces that fall off are called meteoroids.
- Meteorite: If a meteoroid enters Earth’s atmosphere, it begins to evaporate and then turns into a meteorite. On Earth, it will look like a ray of light in the sky, because the rock is burning
- Meteorite: If a meteoroid does not completely evaporate and survive the journey through Earth’s atmosphere, it can land on Earth. At that point, it turns into a meteorite.
- Kite: Like asteroids, a comet orbits around the Sun. However, instead of being made primarily of rock, a comet contains a lot of ice and gas, which can lead to the formation of incredible tails behind them (thanks to vaporization from ice and dust)
In other news, NASA revealed a rare image of a comet breaking.
The space agency recently awarded new grants for innovative space projects.
And we’ve put together some great photos of the Lyrid meteor shower taken earlier in the week.
Are you a fan of stargazing? Let us know in the comments …
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