Sky-watchers should also be on the lookout for fireballs, which are space rocks. Comet Thatcher most recently passed by the sun (and Earth's neighborhood) in 1861, and it'll next pass by in 2276. About 15 percent of them leave behind persistent, smoky trails that are clearly visible for a few minutes thereafter. it's one of the earliest recorded showers. The resulting display has been observed at least as early as 687 B.C. Luckily for skywatchers, though, Earth passes through its path every year in mid- to late April. The Lyrids' source, Comet Thatcher, orbits the sun about once every 415 years. Still, some skywatchers might try their luck despite the brightly shining moon. The Lyrids hit Earth's atmosphere traveling as fast as 30 miles per second (49 kilometers per second), and can shine about as brightly as the stars in the Big Dipper, Cooke said.Ĭooke told that the Lyrids do occasionally produce outbursts of as many as 100 meteors per hour, but that those bursts are unpredictable. Because meteors can appear all across the sky, the naked eye is the best tool you can use telescopes and binoculars will narrow your view.ĭon't look directly at the radiant meteors coming from farther away are more likely to have long, striking tails. The annual Lyrid meteor shower will peak on Tuesday morning, but keep your eyes on the sky over the weekend as well. Be sure to dress warmly, if you're somewhere cold, and get somewhere comfortable to sit where you can lean back and look at the whole sky. Regardless of when you look, the key to watching a meteor shower is to go somewhere as dark as possible and make sure you give your eyes enough time to adjust - don't just dart outside to look at one allow 20-30 minutes to adjust.
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