Updated
Updated · The Times · Apr 22Stunning Lyrid Meteor Shower Peaks as Astronaut Captures View from Space
53 articles · Updated · The Times · Apr 22
- The Lyrid meteor shower peaked between April 21 and 22, offering skywatchers clear views of meteors streaking across the night sky.
- NASA astronaut Jessica Meir captured a rare photograph of a Lyrid meteor from the International Space Station, sharing the image on social media.
- The Lyrids, originating from Comet Thatcher, are the oldest recorded meteor shower and remain visible until April 30 under favourable conditions.
What ancient myths were inspired by the Lyrids, the oldest meteor shower known to humankind? Comet Thatcher won't return until 2283. Is its ancient debris trail shrinking, and will the Lyrids eventually disappear? With Lyrids and the Aurora visible together, why is this a rare celestial event for some northern states? How do meteor showers help us find dangerous asteroids that are otherwise hidden from our telescopes? Do the thousands of particles in a meteor shower pose any real threat to our satellites in orbit? What does a meteor photo from space reveal about our atmosphere that we can't see from the ground?