Don’t Miss The Lyrids Meteor Shower 2021 (April 22-23rd)

This month the world is in for a treat with a beautiful meteor shower expected to take place – the April Lyrids. 

What are the Lyrids?

The April Lyrids is one of the oldest known meteor showers that happens every year between April 16th and 26th. It dates back approximately 2,700 years, with it being first seen in 687 B.C. in China. 

Lyrids are described as pieces of debris that emerge from the comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher. Basically, what you can expect to see is a bunch of shooting stars. And since the Lyrids appear from one of the brightest stars in the sky (the Vega star from the Lyra constellation), the showers are usually pretty bright. 

So, how do you see it? 

To see the Lyrids meteor shower you don’t need to have any special equipment or skills. The only thing you really need is a clear sky. 

The peak of the shower will be the night between April 22nd and 23rd. Regardless of where you are, the best time to spot the shooting stars is between midnight and dawn.

Of course, it’s always best to escape the city where there are harsh lights. Find an open space, lie down, give your eyes some time to adjust to the darkness, and look out for shooting stars!

The Lyridis usually produce about 10 to 20 meteors per hour in the northern hemisphere and about 1 to 2 per hour in the southern hemisphere. Sometimes there are even outbursts of 100 per hour but that is not expected for this year. 

Either way, it’s set to be a beautiful night, so mark this day down on your calendar and be prepared for a spectacular meteor shower. More information on the position of the Lyrdis can be found here.