An astonishing sight in the night sky is sure to blow your mind tonight, but better hurry before it disappears.
Skywatchers had better hurry if they want to catch an incredible show in the skies above us tonight, because the event is quickly passing. The Lyrid meteor shower peaked on Saturday morning but is still visible Sunday night and even into Monday, so you’d better get outside soon if you want to see it.
This annual event happens when the Earth passes through path of Comet Thatcher, which kicks of small meteors behind it that enter Earth’s atmosphere and create a show. Saturday night into Sunday morning was the best time to watch them, but they will linger through Monday, April 24.
The spectacular show can sometimes deliver up to 90 meteors per hour, although you’re more likely to see in the range of 18 to 20 per hour at its peak, and less tonight. If it’s cloudy or you live in an area with lots of light pollution, it will be tougher to see them. You can find them near the constellation Lyra in the northern sky to the northeast of bright star Vega.
“This year’s second major meteor shower – the Lyrids – will radiate through the Summer Triangle,” NASA said in a statement. “It peaks in the morning hours of April 22. Patient observers will be rewarded with the sight of 18 meteors per hour before dawn from a dark sky location. Since the moon will be nearly to its new moon phase, expect excellent moon-less viewing conditions this year. The actual new moon is on April 26.”
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