Two Meteor Showers Are About to Unleash Their Shooting Stars—Here's How to See Them
Have you always wanted to make a wish on a shooting star? April is a great month to do so, as two impressive meteor showers are currently active—the Lyrids and the Eta Aquarids. Here's everything you need to know about these meteor showers, including how and when to see them.
Related: A Newly Discovered Comet is Dazzling Skygazers—Here's How to See It While You Can
The Lyrids appear to come from the constellation Lyra and are the result of Earth passing through the tail of comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher. The Lyrids are active from April 15 to April 29 and will reach their peak late in the evening on April 21.
They are one of the oldest meteor showers, with the first recorded sighting being in 687 BC, NASA reports. The Lyrid meteor shower is known for its fast and bright meteors that have dazzled stargazers for centuries. While it has the potential to produce as many as 100 shooting start every hour, during a typical year, only about 10 to 20 shooting stars are seen per hour.
The Lyrids appear to radiate from the area near the star Vega, the brightest star in the constellation Lyra. Per NASA, it is easier to view the Lyrids away from their radiant, as they will appear longer and more spectacular. If you look right at the radiant, the meteors will look short.
The Eta Aquarids appear to come from the constellation Aquarius and are the result of Earth passing through debris left behind by Halley's Comet. This meteor shower is active from April 19 to May 28 and is expected to peak on the night of May 5.
According to NASA, the Eta Aquarid meteors are known for their speed, with the meteors traveling at about 40.7 miles per second into Earth's atmosphere. Fast meteors can leave behind glowing trains that linger for several seconds to minutes. At its peak, 50 shooting stars from the Eta Aquarids can be seen per hour.
The Eta Aquarids appear to radiate from the Eta Aquarii star, one of the brightest stars within the constellation Aquarius. According to NASA, this star and the constellation are where the name for the Eta Aquarids comes from.
Both meteor showers can be seen from the northern hemisphere, but the Eta Aquarids are most impressive to stargazers in the southern hemisphere. According to NASA, this is because the constellation Aquarius (the radiant of the Eta Aquarids) is higher up in the sky in the southern hemisphere than in the northern hemisphere.
To see the Lyrids and the Eta Aquarids, NASA recommends traveling to a location away from city or street lights and air pollution. Lie flat on your back with your feet facing east and look up. Once your eyes adjust to the dark, you will be able to see meteors.
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