A thousands-year-old meteor shower will peak in the night sky this week
A thousands-year-old meteor shower will peak in the night sky this week
April has already been an exciting year for night sky watchers, with the full pink moon last weekend, several asteroid flybys, and the alignment of four planets throughout the month.
April has already been an exciting year for night sky watchers, with the full pink moon last weekend, several asteroid flybys, and the alignment of four planets throughout the month.
Top that off with the Lyrid meteor shower, which first appeared over the Northern Hemisphere on April 14.
Top that off with the Lyrid meteor shower, which first appeared over the Northern Hemisphere on April 14.
The peak of the phenomenon—and your best chance to see it—is April 22, 2022.
The peak of the phenomenon—and your best chance to see it—is April 22, 2022.
And while it makes for an exciting nocturnal activity, it also holds some scientific significance:
And while it makes for an exciting nocturnal activity, it also holds some scientific significance:
Any meteorites that make it to Earth’s surface might hold valuable data on the history of the solar system.
Any meteorites that make it to Earth’s surface might hold valuable data on the history of the solar system.
The Lyrids were written about in the year 687 BCE in the Zhou dynasty, making it the oldest reference to a meteor shower that’s continued into modern times.
The Lyrids were written about in the year 687 BCE in the Zhou dynasty, making it the oldest reference to a meteor shower that’s continued into modern times.