- The Lyrid meteor shower peaks early Thursday morning. People can see 10 to 20 meteors per hour.
- The meteors are the remains of a nearby comet and burn up when they enter our atmosphere.
- The moon will be more than half full, so it will be difficult to see the storm. Here’s how to watch.
- Check out more stories on the Insider company page.
The first meteor shower of spring reaches its peak on Thursday morning.
The Lyrid meteor shower, which takes place every year in late April, occurs when Earth passes through the tail of a comet. When the debris from that comet enters our planet’s atmosphere, it burns up, leaving streaks in the sky that are visible to the naked eye for a few seconds.
When the Lyrids peak, people can expect between 10 and 20 meteors every hour. These meteors often leave behind “glowing dust trains” when they break up, according to NASA.
The moon is more than half full this week, making it more difficult to see the shooting stars. Here are some tips for catching the Lyrids in action.
Leave early Thursday morning, before the sun rises
The Lyrid meteor shower over the ancient city of Aizanoi in Kutahya, Turkey on April 23, 2014.
Fatma Selma Kocabas Aydin / Anadolu Agency / Getty
The best time to catch a glimpse of the Lyrids is Thursday, April 22 in the early morning hours, before the sun rises.
Waiting for the crescent moon to set – about 4 a.m. on the east coast of the US – will make it easier to spot the meteors and their dust trains. Otherwise, the bright glow of the nearly full moon (which is 68% full on Thursday) may obscure the meteor streaks.
Move to an area away from city or street lights and bring a sleeping bag or blanket. You do not need to bring a telescope or binoculars as meteor showers are best seen with the naked eye.
“Lie flat on your back with your feet facing east and look up, taking in as much of the air as possible,” the NASA website said. “After about 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adjust and you will start seeing meteors.”
The shooting stars can appear anywhere in the sky, but if you need a reference point, look at the harp-like constellation Lyra, from which the Lyrids often seem to emerge. (That’s how they get their name.)
If you miss the show on Thursday morning, you will still see meteors on Friday. In fact, the Lyrid meteor shower will continue through April 30 this year. It usually ends on April 25.
One of the oldest known meteor showers
Don Pettit, an astronaut aboard the International Space Station, photographs a Lyrid meteor on April 1, 2012.
NASA / JSC / D. Pettit
Humanity has known about the Lyrid meteor shower for nearly three millennia: The first sighting dates back to 687 BC in China, according to NASA.
The meteors come from a comet called Thatcher, named after the astronomer who first identified the space rock in 1861.
It takes Thatcher 415 years to orbit the sun (we won’t see it again until 2276). As it circles the solar system, Thatcher’s tail leaves a trail of debris and leftover comet particles.
Every April, Earth passes through Thatcher’s debris and is bombarded with comet debris for two weeks – creating a dazzling meteor shower.
After the Lyrids pass, there are 11 more meteor showers to look forward to this year. One of the most popular, the Perseids, reaches its peak on the night of August 11.