Image credit: Computer Science Geek
And so it begins! The Lyrid meteor shower is expected to be at its best in the wee hours after midnight and before dawn on Saturday, April 21, and Sunday, April 22. That’s tonight and tomorrow night between midnight and dawn. How convenient that the 2012 Lyrid shower scheduled itself to take place at new moon and during the weekend! We’re guaranteed moonless skies for this year’s Lyrid meteor shower.
Find out more about the Lyrids here: 2012 Lyrid meteor shower and Lyra the Harp
No matter where you live worldwide, it’s likely the most Lyrid meteors will fly during the dark hour before dawn. That’s when the radiant point of the shower – in the constellation Lyra the Harp – will be highest in the sky. Tomorrow and Sunday morning, find a place away from artificial lights and recline comfortably while looking in all parts of the sky.
The Lyrids are usually a modest shower, featuring 10 to 20 meteors per hour. About one quarter of these swift Lyrid meteors exhibit persistent trains – ionized gas trails that glow for a few seconds after the meteor has passed. The Lyrids aren’t an altogether predictable shower, though, and in rare instances can bombard the sky with up to nearly 100 meteors per hour.
Find out more about the Lyrids and about other meteor showers this year: EarthSky’s meteor guide for 2012
Lyrid meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Lyra, near the star Vega. But the meteors burn up in the atmosphere about 100 kilometers – or 60 miles – up. Vega lies trillions of times farther away at 25 light-years.
Bottom line: With no moon to ruin the show, 2012 is a favorable year for the Lyrid meteor shower. The best viewing for the Lyrid shower will be about 3 a.m. until dawn on Saturday and Sunday mornings – tonight and tomorrow night – the mornings of April 21 and 22. Go someplace where it’s really dark (no city lights). Just lie back comfortably and gaze in all parts of the sky.
[...] those of you who live with dark skies, check out the Lyrid meteor shower this [...]
Will the weather be clear enough in the Chicago, IL area to see the meteors tonight 4/20 and/or tomorrow 4/21?
Probably won’t be able to see them from Chicago, but maybe out in the country just past the ‘burbs
OMG !!! is it also visible in Pakistan , Karachi ???
Nonie,
Yes. Try watching from late night until dawn these next two nights.
Bruce
I can’t wait to catch a glimpse of these meteor showers here in Pittsburgh PA, Yay!!
[...] [I have added the following link for the Lyrids Meteor Shower - click here]: [...]
Hi, what are the stars near Mars mid to late night?
Mars is in Leo Right now, very close to Regulus, the blue-white brightest star in that constellation (Leo), which has the shape of an inverted question mark.
Thank you
I Set My clock For 3 am, Hope its agood one..
Tonight I see an extremely bright star, or at least, I think it’s a star. Can someone help me out? I’m not very versed on the topic… thanks!
Zina,
Im in GA USA and I see the same thing. I think its a planet maybe…
i saw one at 7
It’s the planet Venus – pretty cool, huh?
Yeah it’s pretty cool to watch these days, specially because it is at the highest and brightest it ever appears in its 8-year cycle of apparitions in the east (before sunrise) or west (after sunset). IOW it is unusually high and bright and to top it off this is happening after sundown. If it was happening before sunrise, most people wouldn’t even notice!
Omg da weather is really bad in Memphis. Ugh we’re rained out 2nite and its extra cold. But im most definitely aiming 4 2morrow nite! Keep ur fingers crossed 4 us! I wud hate 2 miss it.?.
If you can’t get outside to see them you can at least hear them….check out space weather radio at http://spaceweatherradio.com/ . If it starts pinging off the charts go outside and try and catch a glimpse. Looks to be great viewing in Colorado tonight. Good luck all!
Just saw meteors in Gilbert az
[...] Lyrids April 2012 [...]