Meteor Shower Spectacle: Lyrids to Light Up the Night Sky
A spectacular display of shooting stars is set to illuminate the night sky as the Lyrid meteor shower reaches its peak. The annual event, which has been observed for over 2,700 years, occurs when the Earth passes through the debris trail left behind by Comet Thatcher. According to the BBC, "Meteor showers happen when dust from a passing comet or asteroid passes through the Earth’s atmosphere. The tiny particles – roughly the size of a grain of sand – vaporise creating visible streaks of light."
As the Earth navigates through the densest part of the dust stream, up to 18 meteors per hour are expected to be visible. However, in some years, the meteor shower can intensify, with rates of up to 100 meteors per hour. Unfortunately, predicting when this will occur is extremely challenging. The BBC notes that "In some years, however, this can intensify and there can be 100 meteors every hour, but it is very difficult to know when this will happen."
The Lyrid meteor shower is one of the oldest-known meteor showers, with observations dating back to ancient times. The shower is caused by debris from Comet Thatcher, which takes over 400 years to complete an orbit around the Sun. Discovered in 1861 by A. E. Thatcher, the comet is the source of the meteor shower that bears its name. As the BBC reports, "Observations of the Lyrids date back around 2,700 years meaning it is one of the oldest-known meteor showers."
The Lyrid meteors appear to emanate from a point in the constellation Lyra, which is located south-west of the star Vega. This radiant position is where the meteors seem to originate from, giving the shower its name. The BBC states that "They are named after the constellation Lyra and the radiant position, which is where the meteors appear to emanate from, is south-west of the star Vega."
For those hoping to catch a glimpse of the Lyrid meteor shower, the best viewing times will be on a clear night, away from city lights and other sources of light pollution. The shower is expected to be visible from around the world, although the best views will be from locations in the Northern Hemisphere. As the BBC advises, "The fireballs are created by debris from Comet Thatcher, which takes more than 400 years to orbit the Sun and was discovered in 1861 by A. E. Thatcher."
In conclusion, the Lyrid meteor shower promises to be a spectacular event for stargazers and astronomers alike. With its rich history and potential for intense meteor activity, it’s an event not to be missed. As the BBC notes, "Meteor showers happen when dust from a passing comet or asteroid passes through the Earth’s atmosphere." With its peak expected to occur soon, now is the perfect time to find a dark spot and enjoy the celestial display.
The article has been sourced from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/articles/ce840rlve0eo.
