Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Even better, its a Lyrid meteor shower, set to light up the sky this April.
Shining between April 16 to 25 – and peaking early morning on the 23rd – these shooting stars will create a visual spectacle you don’t want to miss.
The name ‘Lyrid’ is given due to the streaks shooting out from the constellation, Lyria, home of the bright star Vega.
Under ideal, moonless conditions, one could expect to see ten to fifteen meteors per hour, with the potential for rare surges of up to one hundred meteors per hour.
Interestingly, about a quarter of these meteors leave behind a persistent train, a glowing trail of ionized gas that lingers momentarily in the wake of the meteor.
This time, the Lyrid’s come from from the comet, Thatcher, which apparently only swings by the Sun every four hundred and fifteen years, making this meteor shower the oldest recorded that is still visible today. It’s reported that it was first documented by the ancient Chinese in 687 BCE.
Thatcher is currently on a long journey away from the sun, not expected to return until around the year 2283.
If you ever wondered what meteors actually are, they’re small pieces of debris, like dust or rock, that power through the atmosphere at high speed. As they zip through the sky, they burn up, creating the cosmic chaos that leave us mesmerised.
Expect to see countless bright streaks cascading from the radiant point where the paths converge — like a luminous waterfall of lights, streaming from Vega or, as the ancient Chinese described, meteors falling like rain. The direction they appear from is actually dictated by the motion of the earth and the debis itself.
For those in the Southern Hemisphere, particularly in Adelaide, viewing the Lyrids can be challenging due to the shower’s radiant point being far north on the sky’s dome. Vega, the radiant point, rises just before dawn in these regions, providing a narrower window for meteor watching.
However, despite these limitations, the spectacle remains a possibility, especially when Vega is higher in the sky.
It’s a lot to wrap your head around, but just know, this is a momentous occasion, a rarity, and a beautiful array of lights.
Arun Chandran, author of ‘Chasing Aurora Australis,’ provided a Lyrid viewing survival kit to make sure you are well equipped to see the beautiful spectacle.
First, find a dark spot away from city lights for optimal viewing. Then, exercise breathing techniques and practice a healthy dose of patience – unfortunately, meteors don’t mind running late, or early, so expect the unexpected and hold tight.
As we make our way into the cooler months, make sure to dress accordingly and layer up. Stargazing is a waiting game, one that is a lot more pleasurable when you’re nice and toasty.
Peak viewing times for Adelaide are between 12:40am and 5:50am ACST. So, make a night of it. Rug up, get your binoculars out and watch this spectacular light show glow and twinkle across the night sky in one of Australia’s most exciting astronomical events this year.
WHAT: Lyrid meteor shower
WHEN: April 23, 2:40am – 5:50am ACST
For a map to find low light pollution, click here.
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