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Updated · Space.com · Apr 16Lyrid Meteor Shower to Dazzle Night Skies During April Peak
53 articles · Updated · Space.com · Apr 16
- The annual Lyrid meteor shower is now active and will peak on the night of April 21 into the early morning of April 22.
- Up to 20 meteors per hour may be visible, especially in dark skies after the crescent moon sets, with best viewing in the Northern Hemisphere.
- The Lyrids originate from debris left by Comet Thatcher and are one of the oldest recorded meteor showers, occasionally producing bright fireballs.
When might the Lyrid shower again 'rain stars' as it has in history? Why is the upcoming Eta Aquarid shower from Halley's Comet often a more spectacular event than the Lyrids? What simple viewing trick can dramatically increase the number of meteors you spot during the peak? How does a new 'rock-comet' shower help NASA find hidden city-killer asteroids? What is the strange science behind meteors making audible hisses or pops as they streak across the sky? How can your backyard camera help a global network track space debris and understand our solar system?