Lyrids meteor shower tonight – how to spot burning fireballs crashing into Earth on Friday – the sun, thesun.co.uk
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FIREBALLS are raining down from space right through until April – – Thanks to the stunning Lyrid meteor shower.
We’ve got a simple guide on how to spot the incredible spectacle this evening.
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This picture was taken earlier this week in Surrey, UK Credit: Rick Findler
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The best time to watch it is said to be between midnight and dawn.
This year’s peak coincided with the new moon last night, which meant the sky was especially dark, and the meteors more visible.
The Lyrid meteor shower is made from falling debris from the comet Thatcher.
Lyrid gets its name from the Lyra constellation, the Lyrid shower is one of the oldest known, with records of visible meteors going back 2, 958 years.
(4) (This snap was taken in Russia Credit: Reuters
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This image also tried to capture the Milky Way Credit: The Press Association How to watch the Lyrid meteor shower
To catch sightings of the Lyrids, you will have to be up late as they will become visible from
pm, but will be in their full form after midnight, when lights have been switched off.
You will be able to see the shooting stars best in a large green space, like the countryside, away from any light pollution.
You won’t need a telescope or any special equipment to see them.
You can see them from you garden, or even a well-positioned window.
The best time to view the shower is between midnight and dawn, and they’re more visible under dark, clear skies.
It’s likely you won’t be able to see it straight away.
Try looking northeast and towards the Lyra constellation as this is where the meteors radiate from.
Royal Observatory Greenwich astronomer Ed Bloom said people must be “patient.”
He said: “It could be an hour before you see anything, so wrap up warm and get comfy in your garden.”
NASA have given some tips on how to make the most of your garden to catch the meteor shower.
They advise: “Come prepared with a sleeping bag, blanket or lawn chair. Lie flat on your back with your feet facing east and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible.
“After about 150 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors. Be patient — the show will last until dawn, so you have plenty of time to catch a glimpse. “
So even if you can’t leave your home, as long as you can stay up late enough to catch it, and have a blanket to keep warm, you can still enjoy it from the comforts of your home.
The Lyrids have been known to ‘show off’ in previous years with around 680 meteors per hour.
What’s the difference between an asteroid, meteor and comet?
Here’s what you need to know, according to Nasa …
Asteroid: An asteroid is a small rocky body that orbits the Sun. Most are found in the asteroid belt (between Mars and Jupiter) but they can be found anywhere (including in a path that can impact Earth)
Meteoroid:
When two asteroids hit each other, the small chunks that break off are called meteoroids
Meteor: If a meteoroid enters the Earth’s atmosphere, it begins to vapourise and then becomes a meteor. On Earth, it’ll look like a streak of light in the sky, because the rock is burning up
Meteorite: if a meteoroid does not vapourise completely and survives the trip through Earth’s atmosphere, it can land on the Earth. At that point, it becomes a meteorite
Comet: Like asteroids, a comet orbits the Sun . However rather than being made mostly of rock, a comet contains lots of ice and gas, which can result in amazing tails forming behind them (thanks to the ice and dust vapourising)
Lyrid meteor shower lights up Britain’s skies with shooting stars
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