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Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
See it: Lyrid meteor shower peaks in dazzling worldwide display
NEW YORK – Stargazers across the globe were treated to a dazzling display of shooting stars Monday night as the annual Lyrid meteor shower reached its peak. The luminous Lyrids painted the U.S. skies in the early Tuesday hours for observers in the U.s., offering a spectacular celestial show in Redwood City, California. The Lyrids originate from the dusty trail left behind by comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher. This long-period comet, discovered by astronomer A.E. Thatcher in 1861, takes an estimated 415 years to complete a single orbit around the Sun and hasn't been seen in our inner solar system since. As Earth passes through this stream of debris each April, the tiny particles burn up in our atmosphere, creating the streaks of light we know as meteors. See Renderings Of Space Station To Be Built Around The Moon While an average meteor shower typically produces 10 to 20 meteors per hour, the Lyrids occasionally surprise with bursts of up to 100 meteors per hour. This year's display did not disappoint many observers, who reported seeing numerous bright streaks illuminating the night sky as seen here in Ankara, Turkey's cosmopolitan capital in the country's central Anatolia region. 7 Tips On How To Shoot The Moon With A Camera If this celestial show disappointed you or if cloud cover got in the way, the Eta Aquarids meteor shower in early May will offer another chance to see shooting stars. The Eta Aquarids peak May 3-4, according to NASA. Click here to see your complete guide to all this year's celestial events, featuring more full Moons, eclipses and article source: See it: Lyrid meteor shower peaks in dazzling worldwide display
The Age
22-04-2025
- Science
- The Age
Green fireball explodes in city sky as annual meteor shower hits Australia's east coast
It wasn't a bird, a plane or Superman that made Brisbane's sky come alight overnight. It wasn't air pollution or an alien either. No, the phenomenon behind the green fireball viewed by night owls or those watching the city's 24/7 weather livestream was a meteor travelling about 40 kilometres a second that was probably the size of your fist. While many stargazers believed the light show was part of the Lyrids meteor shower, which comes to the skies each April for about two weeks, experts say this meteor appeared to be from a different celestial event. The coincidence has now turned attention to the Lyrids meteor shower, an event that has been happening in our skies for at least the past 2700 years or so. What is the Lyrids meteor shower? First recorded in 687BC by the Chinese, according to NASA, the Lyrids shower occurs when the Earth passes through the debris trail left by comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, which was discovered by A.E. Thatcher on April 5, 1861. Loading When comets travel around the sun, they leave a dusty trail of particles behind them. These particles, which can also come from broken asteroids, then collide with our atmosphere when the Earth, on its 365-day orbit around the sun, comes into the trail's path. Named after the nearby constellation Lyra, Lyrids are what we see when Thatcher's space debris enters our atmosphere and disintegrates, creating fiery streaks in the sky. Meteor showers occur roughly 30 times a year, but what makes the Lyrids unique – aside from the fact they're one of the oldest recorded meteor showers in the world – is that they don't leave long glowing dust trails.
Sydney Morning Herald
22-04-2025
- Science
- Sydney Morning Herald
Green fireball explodes in city sky as annual meteor shower hits Australia's east coast
It wasn't a bird, a plane or Superman that made Brisbane's sky come alight overnight. It wasn't air pollution or an alien either. No, the phenomenon behind the green fireball viewed by night owls or those watching the city's 24/7 weather livestream was a meteor travelling about 40 kilometres a second that was probably the size of your fist. While many stargazers believed the light show was part of the Lyrids meteor shower, which comes to the skies each April for about two weeks, experts say this meteor appeared to be from a different celestial event. The coincidence has now turned attention to the Lyrids meteor shower, an event that has been happening in our skies for at least the past 2700 years or so. What is the Lyrids meteor shower? First recorded in 687BC by the Chinese, according to NASA, the Lyrids shower occurs when the Earth passes through the debris trail left by comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, which was discovered by A.E. Thatcher on April 5, 1861. Loading When comets travel around the sun, they leave a dusty trail of particles behind them. These particles, which can also come from broken asteroids, then collide with our atmosphere when the Earth, on its 365-day orbit around the sun, comes into the trail's path. Named after the nearby constellation Lyra, Lyrids are what we see when Thatcher's space debris enters our atmosphere and disintegrates, creating fiery streaks in the sky. Meteor showers occur roughly 30 times a year, but what makes the Lyrids unique – aside from the fact they're one of the oldest recorded meteor showers in the world – is that they don't leave long glowing dust trails.
Wales Online
21-04-2025
- Science
- Wales Online
Meteor shower to peak in UK skies tonight with shooting stars visible
Meteor shower to peak in UK skies tonight with shooting stars visible The Lyrids can sometimes offer up to 100 meteors an hour Stars illuminate the sky on a clear night A spectacular meteor shower is set to peak over the skies of the UK on Monday night and Tuesday morning, with up to 100 meteors visible every hour. The Lyrid meteor shower peaks in the middle of April every year, this year falling on Monday night and Tuesday , April 21 and 22. Until April 25, streaks across the sky will be visible for those with good weather. A meteor shower happens when tiny particles from a comet or asteroid burn up in the Earth's atmosphere. The Lyrids bring anywhere from 18 to 100 meteors at their peak. The shower is caused by the Earth passing through the tail of Comet Thatcher, which orbits the Sun every 400 year. It was discovered by A. E. Thatcher in 1861. Article continues below The display is named for the constellation Lyra, where the streaks appear to come from as they cross the sky. The best time to see the display will be early on Tuesday morning, before the sunrise and after the moon has set. The sun will rise at around 6.30am so heading out at around 5am, giving your eyes time to adjust, will mean the best chance of seeing a meteor. Any time after midnight will give you a good chance of seeing the display without the light of the moon making it more difficult. You need to look towards the northeast for a good view. The skies will be clear for much of the UK on Monday night and Tuesday morning. Find a dark spot — Away from city lights is best. Countryside or coastal areas can be ideal. No equipment needed — Just your eyes. Telescopes or binoculars will limit your field of view. Article continues below Let your eyes adjust — Give it 15–30 minutes in the dark to fully adjust. Dress warm — April nights can be chilly in the UK.
Daily Record
21-04-2025
- Science
- Daily Record
When the Lyrid meteor shower is set to peak and how to spot it in Scotland skies
The annual meteor shower is set to peak on Tuesday. Scots have already enjoyed an array of celestial events this spring, with last weekend's Pink Moon, and even a few more sightings of the Northern Lights over the country. But another event is set to excite the amateur astronomers among us this week. The annual Lyrid meteor shower will grace our skies this week, peaking on Tuesday (April 22), and it's set to be visible in our night skies until April 25. This stunning event takes place every year in mid or late April, and it can be seen as a series of short bright streaks across the sky. But what exactly is the Lyrid meteor shower, and how can you give yourself the best chance of seeing it? Here's everything you need to know about this cosmic event. What is the Lyrid meteor shower? The Lyrids were first known to be spotted around 2,700 years ago, meaning it is one of the oldest-known meteor showers, explains the BBC. The Lyrid meteors are formed by debris from Comet Thatcher, discovered in 1861 by A. E. Thatcher, which takes more than 400 years to orbit the sun. They are named after the constellation Lyra, and their radiant position, which is where the meteors appear to come from, is south-west of the star Vega. How and when can you see the Lyrids? This year the Lyrids will be active until April 25 and will peak on Tuesday, April 22. The BBC recommends that the best time to see the shower is in the early morning of the peak day. The moon can make it harder to spot the shower, so it's best to avoid looking for the Lyrids while the moon is in the sky. However, this year, the shower is occurring during the moon's last quarter, meaning viewing conditions should be generally good. The best time to see the Lyrid meteor shower is when the skies are at their darkest and clearest, so it's advised to stay away from light pollution if you can. Scotland offers countless incredible dark sky spots, whether you're in the countryside or the city, and Glasgow offers several ideal stargazing spots that are all a short drive away from the city and with little light pollution. If you're hoping to spot the shower, some patience will be necessary, as it will take around 15-20 minutes for your eyes to adapt to the darkness. Although it may be spring, it's still advised to wrap up warm when going out to see the Lyrids, as nightfall will bring the chill. Hopefully, we'll see clear skies when the meteor shower is at its peak on Tuesday evening, although some cloud is expected over Scotland, according to Met Office weather maps. While the day is supposed to be fairly clear, there will be some rainfall later in the day. The Met Office forecast says: "Tuesday will be a bright day for many, with sunny spells and a scattering of showers. Rain returning to the west later in the day. Feeling warmer for many." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
