Since yesterday, the Lyrids are lighting up the sky! But if you look up and see nothing, don’t panic—the peak of this event will take place on the night of April 22 to 23!
Make a wish, science will take care of the rest
While the term meteor shower is quite poetic, the reality is a bit more technical. It's actually bits of comet or asteroid dust that burn up when entering the atmosphere. A little less romantic, we agree, but you'll impress everyone at the coffee machine with this info!
Every year, the Earth passes through the dust cloud left by comet Thatcher. This year, all the conditions are perfect for viewing them: the weather is lovely and the phase of the moon is just right!
The moon is favorable. As for their name, the “Lyrids,” it simply comes from their point of origin: the constellation of the Lyre.See this post on Instagram
Here's how to not miss the show
The forecasts are announcing 6 shooting stars per hour, which is starting to be significant. To fully enjoy this show, there are a few rules to follow: avoid light, look to the east and...find yourself a lounge chair. Very seriously, the City of Space says that it constitutes a perfect observation instrument, and they're the space pros after all.
The peak of the show will take place on April 22 at 9:40 PM with up to fifteen shooting stars per hour. But the magic moment when the magic happens will be between three and five in the morning: when the moonlight won’t be bothersome anymore.
And if by bad luck you fall asleep too early or if you're not up to date with your eye doctor appointments, you can always count on the annual shooting star shower: the Perseids in August.
Voir cette publication sur Instagram