Get ready for the 2020 Lyrid meteor shower in Illinois. This celestial display lights up the night each April, and it’s definitely worth camping out in the backyard. Scroll on for more details.
Peaking April 21-22, 2020, the Lyrid Meteor Shower has been witnessed for at least 2,500 years and is made up of debris from a comet.
flickr/Phillip Chee
Altogether, the shower lasts from about April 16 to April 25 each year. The comet Thatcher, from which the meteor shower comes, takes about 415 years to orbit the Sun and is expected to be visible from Earth again in 2276.
Flickr/sugarbear96
The Lyrid Meteor Shower typically produces about 10 to 15 meteors per hour with occasional surges of 100, though there is no way to predict exactly when it will happen.
Flickr/Mike Durkin
In addition to these outbursts, fireballs are likely during this show. All these features make this meteor shower one to catch this year.
Flickr/Islam Hassan
You don’t need special equipment to view a meteor shower. Patience is key, and you may want to bring a blanket if the night is cold.
Flickr/sugarbear96
Luckily, the moon will not be full on the nights that the Lyrids are expected to peak. It is best to find a spot with as little light pollution as possible.
Flickr/Virginia State Parks
Everyone in the northern hemisphere can expect to see the Lyrids. Those in the southern hemisphere may see some but this display is mostly aimed at those who can see the Lyra constellation after which it is named.
Flickr/Virginia State Parks To find the constellation, look directly overhead and locate a very bright bluish star, which is Vega. This forms the very north tip of the constellation.
Are you going to look out for the 2020 Lyrid meteor shower? Share your plans with us below in the comments.
flickr/Phillip Chee
Flickr/sugarbear96
Flickr/Mike Durkin
Flickr/Islam Hassan
Flickr/Virginia State Parks
To find the constellation, look directly overhead and locate a very bright bluish star, which is Vega. This forms the very north tip of the constellation.
For more like this, check out these eight space-themed attractions in Illinois that kids adore.
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