Spring is always a glorious time in Nebraska, with everything coming back to life and turning green, the weather warming up, and the Lyrid meteor shower lighting up the sky. It’s a once-a-year phenomenon that we look forward to each spring. This year it seems a little more significant given the fact that many of us have been spending a lot more time at home. This is one family activity that you can do while still practicing responsible social distancing. Next month, find a dark place, lie back on your blanket, and enjoy the magic of one of nature’s most beautiful shows.
Slated to take place April 16th through the 25th, 2020, the Lyrid meteor shower occurs every spring and is considered to be one of the best of the year.
flickr/Phillip Chee
Located in the constellation Lyra (hence the name), the Lyrid meteor shower can produce anywhere between 20 to 100 meteors per hour, some of which are followed by bright trails of dust that can be seen for seconds at a time.
flickr/Rocky Raybill
What causes this springtime phenomenon? It is all thanks to the long-period Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, which sheds its dust and debris during this period, resulting in the annual meteor shower.
flickr/Virginia State Parks
In Nebraska, the peak of the Lyrid meteor shower will be April 22nd and 23rd, with the best time to view between midnight and 6 a.m.
flickr/NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Not sure how to find the constellation Lyra? No problem, as the meteors can be seen anywhere in the sky!
flickr/Virginia State Parks
If you’re able to travel, we recommend watching the meteor shower from Merritt Reservoir, one of the darkest places in the whole state. If you’re not nearby, though, any place away from bright city lights should do the trick.
flickr/Grace Uy
Where will you be watching the Lyrid meteor shower this year?
flickr/Phillip Chee
flickr/Rocky Raybill
flickr/Virginia State Parks
flickr/NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
flickr/Grace Uy
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