The 2017 Lyrids Meteor Shower Has Begun

The 2017 Lyrids meteor shower is officially underway as the event started on Monday night and will continue up until next week. It is expected to peak on Saturday, April 22^nd. According to specialists, the best time to watch the nighttime spectacle is in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday morning.

The 2017 Lyrids Meteor Shower Will Be Active Throughout April 17^th to 25^th

The Lyrids are a meteor shower that takes place around the same period in April each year. This nighttime spectacle usually happens in between April 16^th to April 26^th. Typically, the event’s peak period takes place on April 22^nd.

The radiant of the Lyrids can be found in the Lyra constellation, near this latter’s brightest star. This is called the Vega or the Alpha Lyrae. The meteor shower is caused by the dust shed by the Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, a long-period comet. Also, the Lyrids are the strongest annual meteor shower resulting from the debris of a long-period comet. This April’s meteor shower event has reportedly been observed for well over 2,600 years.

According to the AMS, the Lyrids can be best watched:

“It would best to face toward the northern half of the sky with the moon at your back.”

The American Meteor Society offered some details on the event. It also pointed out the fact that it will not be the only one of its kind to take place this month. April will also hold the Eta Aquariids, a meteor shower which is associated with Halley’s Comet.

Eta Aquariids is one of the only major annual meteor showers not to have a peak point. Taking place for about a month, it usually takes place in between April 21^st to May 20^th. Its peak activity is registered around May 6^th.

 

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