Composite picture of Lyrid and not-Lyrid meteors over New Mexico from April, 2012. Credit: NASA/ MSFC/ Danielle Moser
The Lyrid meteor shower peaks on April 23 with approximately 15 meteors per hour.
The shower is one of the earliest in history, with records dating back 2,700 years. Lyrid outbursts remain difficult to predict, making routine observations important for improving designs.
This years Lyrid meteor shower will peak in the predawn hours of April 23. On average, the shower can produce up to 15 meteors per hour under ideal watching conditions. The shower gets its name from the constellation Lyra, the point in the sky where the meteors appear to stem.
On average, the shower can produce up to 15 meteors per hour under ideal watching conditions. The very first record of the Lyrid meteor shower dates back 2,700 years, making it one of the oldest in history. The last Lyrid outburst was in 1982, when 75 meteors per hour were taped by observers in Florida.
Unlike some other showers, meteor scientists arent able to predict Lyrid outbursts. On April 21, the 2012 Lyrid meteor shower peaked in the skies over Earth.
Lyrid Meteors from the Constellation Lyra. Credit & & Copyright: Petr Horálek
The very first record of the Lyrid meteor shower dates back 2,700 years, making it one of the earliest in history. Researchers looking though old records have actually discovered descriptions of significant Lyrid outbursts. The last Lyrid outburst was in 1982, when 75 meteors per hour were recorded by observers in Florida.
The typical theme here is that Lyrid outbursts are surprises. Unlike some other showers, meteor scientists arent able to anticipate Lyrid outbursts. Thats why it is essential to make observations each year so that models of its activity can be enhanced.
On April 21, the 2012 Lyrid meteor shower peaked in the skies over Earth. While NASA allsky cams were searching for, astronaut Don Pettit aboard the International Space Station trained his camera in the world below. Video footage has actually revealed spectacular images of meteors ablating– or burning up– over Earth in the evening. This video is a composite of 310 still frames from that night. Credit: NASA/JSC/Don Pettit
How can you best observe the Lyrids? After 10:30 p.m. local time on the night of April 22, find a dark place away from city lights with open sky totally free of clouds and look straight up. It will take about 30 minutes for your eyes to get accustomed to the dark. Do not take a look at your cell phone– the bright light from its screen will interrupt your night vision. You will begin to see Lyrids, and as the night progresses the meteors will appear more frequently, reaching 10 to 15 per hour in the pre-dawn hours of the 23rd. You can see Lyrids on the night prior to and after the peak, but the rates will be lower, maybe 5 per hour or two.
