During the one-year revolution around the Sunthe earth has its route that crosses that of several times Come eat and D’asteroids passed there. The debris left behind by the first creates what the astronomers are calling meteor showersor showers fromfalling starswhen our planet crosses them.
One of the most important meteor showers of the year is the so-called Lyriden† It starts around April 15 and activity peaks around April 22, before drying up at the end of the month. Fueled by the various past passages of Comet Thatcher — C/1861 G1 (Thatcher) –, ours irrigates atmosphere of its small dust launched at an average of 48 km / h.
In the night of April 21 to 22 it will be necessary to crescent moon decreasing (70% vol), so with a Brightness large enough to interfere with the observation of the faintest meteors. The average rate of visible Lyrids per hour is up to 20. The night before and the next can be just as prosperous as the announced peak of activity.
To observe them, as always, it is better to turn to the Zodiac sign by radiant who gave its name to the swarm, in this case the Lyre, and waits until it is highest in the sky, or rather at the end of the night. Please note that you have not lost anything by getting up earlier than usual, because at this time of night, about an hour before the first rays of the sun, there is a beautiful alignment of four planets stands to the east. A show not to be missed, especially in the best possible conditions, tens of kilometers from the light pollution†
The Lyrid Meteor Shower in 2021
Article by Xavier Demeersmann published on April 22, 2021
It is tonight that the Lyrid meteor shower would reach its optimum. Alas, the moonlike moon that shines in the Lion tonight and until 4:30 am, its brilliance will hinder the observation of the smallest meteors.
Despite the presence of this lighthouse at night, as always it is appropriate for astronomy to reach the countryside from urban agglomerations, as far as possible from the harmful light pollution (harmful to astronomy as well as to biodiversity) to make the most of the celestial spectacle (lots of things to see except the Lyrids) and the sparkling arrows of the Lyriden†
Remember, their name comes from the constellation Lyra, which really only gets high in the middle of the night right now. It’s in her, more precisely between the brilliant vegan the ribs of Hercules where the radiant is located. It is mainly there, in that direction, that we have to look.
The meteor shower is fueled by tiny dust particles ripped from Comet Thatcher during each of its orbits around Earth — the last was in 1861, the year of its discovery. They fall on Earth’s upper atmosphere at about twenty per hour, creating the spectacle of one of the most beautiful shooting star showers of the year.
The Lyrids in 2020
Article by Nathalie Meyer published on April 21, 2020
The Lyrids are said to be among the most beautiful shooting star showers of the year. And since April 16, Earth is once again going through the dust stream left behind by comet C/1861 G1 Thacher. According to the IMO, theInternational Meteor Organization, the peak of activity is expected on the night of April 21 to 22. The hourly rate is about twenty shooting stars per hour.
To observe them closely, as always, it is strongly advised to move away from the light pollution towns. But in a confinement situation, at least we can count on the absence of the moon — it will be the… new Moon tomorrow — to darken the sky. And wait until the middle of the night — until thedawn –, that the constellation Lyra — and its brightest star, vegan — is high enough in our sky.
To capture the brightest and longest Lyrids, it’s advisable to look a little further from their radiant, to the constellation Hercules or even Bouvier. Also observe the sky for at least an hour. Because the activity is not equal in time. If you only look at the sky for a few minutes, you may be unlucky enough to run into a trough and not see shooting stars.
Finally, note that the weather forecast are more favorable this time for a sighting in the north of the country than in the southern half.
Don’t miss the Lyrids meteor shower on April 21-22
Every year, between April 16 and 25, our Earth crosses themeteor shower of the Lyrids. We owe it to comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher who raided the Solar system internally every 415 years. And it’s the first big chance in the spring to witness a shower of shooting stars.
The climax of the show is scheduled for the night of April 21 to 22. A little before sunrise, in a place preferably spared from light pollution — this year, don’t worry about the moon, which won’t be there at that time — you should look toward the star Vega and what constellation Lyra†
It should be possible to observe between 10 and 20 meteors per hour. Something to enchant these difficult periods constraint†
Don’t miss the maximum Lyrid meteor shower this weekend
Article by Floriane Boyer published on 20/04/2019
The meteoritic swarm of the Lyrids once again graces us with crossing our skies in the second half of April. In activity from the 16th to the 25th of the month, this year’s shooting star rain would reach its maximum on the night from Sunday to Monday (April 21 to 22), according to theAmerican Meteor Society, at a rate of 10 to 20 meteors per hour. To make sure you can make a wish, it is advisable to look out for their arrival both the night before the peak of activity and the following night, knowing that the maximum is usually in the night of April 22 to 23† However, the moon threatens to hinder observations, as it is just emerging from its full phase.
The meteors in this swarm appear to originate from a point to the right of the beautiful blue star Vega, the brightest in the constellation Lyra, hence their name. In fact, they correspond to the dusty debris of comet C/1861 G1, nicknamed Thatcher, which traverses Earth at the same time each year. Besides the magic of this show and the possible wishes, there is another good reason not to miss their visit: it is one of the oldest shooting star showers which we can witness today. The earliest known sighting dates back to 2,700 years ago.
