There are not many things more spectacular than looking up at night at a dark sky and watching meteors race across the heavens. The wonder and awe of how such small space debris could produce this spectacle is one of the most fascinating aspects of meteor showers. For a chance to view these glowing meteoroids entering the earth’s atmosphere, turn your gaze upward from April 16th to April 25th. Vermont is an excellent place to watch the Lyrid Meteor Shower this April due to the relatively little light pollution Vermont has.

Occurring every year during the mid to end of April, the Lyrids Meteor shower produces on average 10 meteors per hour. The meteors’ radiant comes from the constellation of Lyra, hence the name of the meteor shower.

Jeff Sullivan/flickr

The meteors are made of debris (particles of dust) from the long-period Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher. Most meteors are smaller than a grain of sand, but they reach incredible speeds, with many traveling around 48 kilometers per second.

Bruce McClure and Joni Hall - EarthSky.org/wikipedia

The Lyrids Meteor shower has been seen and reported every year since 687 BCE, making it the longest annually reported meteor shower.

Sjensen~/flickr

Depending on the luminosity of the moon, the meteors might be tricky to observe. If there are nights without a moon, then the probability of witnessing the Lyrids increases exponentially.

Donovan Shortey/flickr

The peak of the Lyrids meteor shower takes place on April 22nd and April 23rd annually. During these nights, it’s possible to see more than 20 meteors per hour. And, in rare occasions, the shower intensifies if the dust-trail of the comment combines with earth’s, which happens roughly every 60 years.

NASA HQ Photo/flickr

Have you had the marvelous chance to observe the Lyrids meteor shower in years past? Where do you plan on taking in the spectacle this year? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Jeff Sullivan/flickr

Bruce McClure and Joni Hall - EarthSky.org/wikipedia

Sjensen~/flickr

Donovan Shortey/flickr

NASA HQ Photo/flickr

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