LYRID METEORS
PEAK APRIL 21/22

The Lyrid meteor shower is a medium-strength shower giving 10 to 20 meteors at its peak, which this year comes on the morning of April 22nd, about dawn Irish time.

The meteors paths all appear to point back to near the bright star Vega, in Lyra, hence the name. Lyra is low in the East after dusk around 10pm so numbers should build until dawn. The Moon will not be in the sky so this year is good for seeing the Lyrids. That said there are more faint meteors than bright ones so dark rural skies are best.

The source of the Lyrids is thought to be Comet Thatcher. There is some Lyrid activity from April 16 to April 30.  Let us know what you see magazine@astronomy.ie