Like every year the Lyrids ‘land’ during the month of April. This year they can be observed from April 16 to 25; The best day being Friday the 22nd (the early morning of April 21-22) , which will be when they look much more luminous and spectacular, a characteristic that already accompanies this meteor shower.
The best time to observe them will be shortly before sunrise, during which time they can be seen up to 100 per hour. The rest of the days, the average will be about 20 meteors per hour . All of them will enter the atmosphere at about 49 km per second – a moderate speed – according to NASA forecasts.
The Lyrid meteors come from Comet Thatcher (discovered on April 5, 1861 by AE Thatcher) from the constellation of Lyre, whose orbit is 415 years and are exceedingly bright (almost as bright as the stars of Ursa Major) .
As in all meteor showers, the Lyrid can be observed without the need for telescopes or other types of viewing instruments. As always, it is recommended to go to a place away from light pollution and wait for the weather to accompany a clear sky. The Moon, unlike last year, will hinder observation, as it will enter the full moon phase on April 22.
This medium-high intensity rain is noticeable from anywhere in the world , although more pronounced in the northern hemisphere of the planet.
Comet Thatcher’s closest approach to Earth won’t come until 2276.
The next meteor shower will take place in May; at the beginning of the month the so-called Eta Acuáridas will be produced.
