See Up To 18 Meteors Per Hour During The Lyrid Meteor Showers In April

Get ready for an epic show in the sky, Missouri! But, before the annual Lyrid Meteor Showers dart across the sky, scout out a dark place. Find a spot away from light pollution, such as street lights and lights from homes, so you’ll have a much easier time seeing an average of 18 meteors an hour.

The annual Lyrid Meteor Showers return to the sky next month, between April 16 and 25. While you may be able to see meteor showers on most evenings during that period, you’ll definitely want to head outdoors for the…

Flickr/Sugarbear96

Peak, estimated to be April 21-22, 2020. During the peak, stargazers will be able to see up to 18 meteors an hour. Keep an eye out, too, for the dust trails that lag behind, for a few seconds, each meteor.

Flickr/SugarBear96

The Lyrid Meteors are named after the constellation Lyra and were first recorded some 2,700 years ago, around 687 BC, by the Chinese.

Flickr/Phillip Chee

You’ll see fireballs during the meteor showers. Those fireballs are a result of debris from the Thatcher Comet, which takes 400 years to travel around the sun. (Experts say it will next be visible from earth in 2276.)

Flickr/Scott Butner

You should be able to see meteors darting across the sky any time between April 16 and 25. However, if you want to increase your chances of seeing more meteor showers, head outdoors on the peak evening of April 21-22.

Flickr/Mike Lewinski

Although 10 to 12 meteors per hour is the average, that number jumps to 18 an hour on the peak evening.

Flickr/Virginia State Parks

On the evening you plan to stargaze, head outdoors and gaze at the sky. It usually takes around a half an hour for your eyes to adjust to the darkness. After they adjust, you should start seeing the Lyrids shooting across the sky.

Flickr/Rocky Raybell

Do you plan on watching the Lyrid Meteor Showers this April? Have you done so before? Let us know in the comments! Then, check out these 14 beautiful photos of Missouri at night.