Stargazers have taken a welcome respite from the coronavirus lockdown to step into their gardens and look up for shooting stars. The annual Lyrids meteor shower will continue to peak tonight in until the early hours of tomorrow morning.
The best time to look for shooting star will be after midnight lasting until dawn.
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac: “Start looking for the Lyrids Meteor Showers late at night on Tuesday, April 21.
“In 2020, the likely peak is Wednesday morning, April 22.
“The sky will be darker than usual, since it is a New Moon. So, we should see 10 to 15 shooting stars per hour.
“In nearly all showers, the radiant is highest just before dawn. But anytime between midnight and dawn gives you a view of most meteors head-on, for a more frequent display.
“Starting around midnight, your location on the globe spins around to the forward-facing half of Earth (in relation to the direction of orbit).
“At dawn, your location on the globe directly faces the direction in which Earth is travelling along its orbit.”
The Lyrids meteors look like they are coming from the constellation Lyra, meaning Lyra is the radiant.
The shower starts only after the radiant rises in the sky so onlookers should check times to know when to head out to look to the heavens.
An astronomer’s handy tip to look for Lyra is to seek out Vega – the brightest star in the constellation.
The Royal Observatory Greenwich said: “The best time to see the shower is in the early morning of the peak day, which this year is the morning of the 22 April (the night of the 21 April).
“Wait until after midnight when the radiant point, in the constellation of Lyra, will have risen in the East.
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“The later in the morning you wait, the higher the radiant will rise and the fewer meteors will be hidden below the horizon. But the closer you get to sunrise the brighter the sky is going to become so plan accordingly!
“Then simply fill your view with the sky and wait. Lying on the ground is a great way to see as much as possible – blanket optional but highly recommended. Reclining deckchairs make an even more comfortable way to view the sky.
“Also, even though summer is rapidly approaching, remember to wrap up warm!”
Thankfully, clear skies are expected for tonight at least, giving stargazers the perfect opportunity to catch a glimpse of the meteor shower.
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