Ultimate Guide to Enjoying the Spectacular Lyrid Meteor Shower Peak This Week – Don’t Miss the Show! | WTOP News

The April sky is buzzing with excitement! We’ve just witnessed the breathtaking northern lights thanks to a geomagnetic storm on April 16. But there’s more to come. The April Lyrids meteor shower is here, running until April 28, with its peak on the night of April 21.

What makes the Lyrids special? Each year, our planet passes through the trail of dust left by the comet C/1861 G1, known as "Thatcher." When Earth collides with this debris, tiny particles enter our atmosphere at incredible speeds—about 29 miles per second! As these particles burn up, they create those dazzling streaks in the sky we love to call "shooting stars."

Viewing the Lyrids doesn’t require any fancy equipment. Just grab a blanket or lounge chair, find a dark spot, and look up. Starting around 10 p.m., look for the constellation Lyra in the northeastern sky. As the night goes on, it’ll climb higher for better viewing. With clear skies, you can expect to see about a dozen meteors per hour. But some years, the Lyrids have amazed stargazers with bursts of up to 100 meteors an hour!

Even if you live in the city, you might catch a few bright Lyrids, provided you can escape the glow of streetlights. Of course, the best views are from areas with less light pollution. The moon might get in the way just before dawn, but don’t let that stop you. If you wake up early, check the skies for Venus shining bright in the east.

As for scientific insight, NASA notes that light pollution impacts our ability to see celestial events. The agency advocates for star-friendly practices, like shielding outdoor lights, to help preserve our night skies.

With all this cosmic activity, there’s plenty of reasons to step outside and look up. The Lyrids remind us how connected we are to the universe, even if just for a moment.

For more space news and updates on upcoming celestial events, keep an eye on Greg Redfern’s space forecast. You can find him on Facebook, Bluesky, and through his daily blog. Enjoy the show!

Check out this related article: NASA and Russian Astronauts Safely Return to Earth Aboard Soyuz MS-26 Spacecraft