Skywatchers can catch a meteor shower on Thursday night into Friday morning when a lot of flares burst in the darkness.
When our planet runs into the debris field left behind by icy comets or rocky asteroids, there are meteorite showers. The small particles burn up in the atmosphere. Every year there is a meteor shower that happens at the same time.
The first major shower of the spring is the lyrids. They have been active since April 15 and will peak on April 21 to 22 or Thursday night and early Friday morning.
The comet Thatcher is the source of the meteors. It is best to see it in the early hours before dawn in the Northern Hemisphere.
It will peak when the moon is two-thirds full. If you don't get a good show overnight, the moon will be a tiny crescent in 2023, which will allow up to 18 meteors per hour to be visible.
There are more showers to come. Visit The Times to find a list of major showers expected in 2022, or sync ourcurated collection of major space and astronomy events with your personal digital calendar.
The best way to get away from artificial light sources is to head out to the countryside. People in rural areas may be able to just step outside. City dwellers have options too.
Robert Lunsford, the secretary-general of the International Meteor Organization, said that he would suggest contacting the society to find out where they are.
The best time to view a meteorite shower is after midnight and before sunrise. You have to wait 30 to 45 minutes after you get to your viewing location to see as many meteors as possible. It will allow your eyes to adjust. Take in a large swathe of the night sky. Clear nights, higher altitudes and times when the moon is not present are best. The more stars you can see, the more meteorites you can see.
It's not necessary for you to have telescopes or binoculars for the shower.
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