The Lyrid meteor shower will be visible from Australia later this month, offering stargazers an opportunity to witness one of Earth’s oldest known meteor showers.

What is the Lyrid meteor shower?

The Lyrid meteor shower, also known as the Lyrids, is an annual event that occurs when Earth passes through a trail of debris left by a comet called ‘comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher’. As Earth passes though the comet’s debris trail, the small particles disintegrate in our atmosphere and cause bright streaks of light in the night sky.

From the perspective of someone viewing from Earth, the Lyrid meteor shower appears to originate from the constellation Lyra, which is why it is called the Lyrid meteor shower. Note though that the meteors don’t actually come from the constellation Lyra, this is simply a point of reference in the sky to help people identify the meteor shower.

When does the Lyrid meteor shower occur?

The Lyrids occur each year in mid-to-late April, becoming active between the 17th and 26th and reaching a peak around April 21-22. At its peak, the Lyrids typically produce around 5 to 20 meteors per hour, although some years are more active than others and can generate a higher number of meteors.

How to see the Lyrid meteor shower

You don’t need any special equipment to view the Lyrid meteor shower, and they can be seen safely with a naked eye. The best way to increase your chance of seeing the Lyrids is to:

• Find an area with clear sky away from light pollution.
• Make sure you give your eyes plenty of time to adjust to the darkness (about half an hour).
• Look at the sky above the horizon, facing towards the north or northeast.
• Watch for bright and fast flashes of light.

According to NASA, The Lyrid meteor shower is one of the oldest known meteor showers on Earth, with sightings dating back more than 2,500 years.

If you happen to miss the Lyrids, you will have another chance to see shooting stars during the Eta Aquarids meteor shower, which is active from late April to late May, reaching a peak around May 3-6.