Just over a week after an astronomical wonder made millions of people look up to the sky in awe, a meteor shower is about to dazzle those who observe the night sky.
The Lyrid meteor shower it started Monday, according to EarthSky, and will end on April 29. According to NASA, it is in between the oldest known meteor shower and is the result of Earth passing through debris from a comet known as Comet Thatcher. From there, the debris collides with Earth’s atmosphere “where it disintegrates to create fiery, colorful streaks in the sky.”
Here’s how you can see the Lyrids meteor shower:
According to NASA, the Lyrids are “best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere during dark hours (after moonset and before dawn).” The agency recommends that people “find an area well away from city or street lights.”
“Come prepared with a sleeping bag, blanket or lawn chair,” the agency continued on a Lyrids web page. “Lie on your back with your feet facing east and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible. After about 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors. Be patient – the show will last until dawn, so you’ll have plenty of time to check it out.”
The agency also noted that Lyrids “do not tend to leave long trains of bright dust behind as they pass through Earth’s atmosphere, but they may produce an occasional bright flash called a fireball.”
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