Stargazers in Wrightwood, California, will have the opportunity to witness one of the most ancient meteor showers known to mankind, despite the challenge posed by a nearly full moon. The Lyrids meteor shower, set to last until April 29, is expected to reach its peak overnight from Sunday to Monday, as per the American Meteor Society. The celestial show, best observed in the Northern Hemisphere, derives its name from the constellation Lyra, from which it radiates.
Given the luminosity of the moon this weekend, visibility of the meteor shower may be hindered, although viewers can still catch a glimpse by ensuring that the sky around them is as dark as possible. According to EarthSky, finding a location shielded from the moon’s brightness, such as within the shadows of mountains or under trees, is recommended to enhance the viewing experience.
To fully enjoy the meteor shower, NASA suggests lying down with feet pointed eastward and allowing 30 minutes for the eyes to adjust to the darkness. Photography enthusiasts will require specific adjustments in camera settings, such as a slower shutter speed, higher ISO, and a stable tripod, to capture the beauty of the shooting stars streaking across the night sky.
While bright trains might not be expected during the Lyrids’ journey through Earth’s atmosphere, NASA advises keeping an eye out for luminous fireballs, which can be brighter than the planet Venus. By deploying over a dozen cameras nationwide to record these occurrences, NASA aims to gain deeper insights into objects circulating near Earth, crucial knowledge for spacecraft designers.
The Lyrids meteor shower traces its origin back to over 2,700 years ago when Chinese astronomers first documented its presence. This celestial phenomenon occurs as the Earth intersects with the dust and debris trail left behind by comets and asteroids in their orbits around the sun. In the case of the Lyrids, the remnants belong to comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, discovered by amateur astronomer A.E. Thatcher in the year 1861.
Despite the annual encounter with Comet Thatcher’s trail, it takes the comet over 400 years to complete a single orbit around the sun. The upcoming meteor shower after the Lyrids is the Eta Aquariids, best observed from the southern tropics in early May, followed by the Alpha Capricornids at the end of July, a spectacle that promises darker skies for North American viewers.