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Powys County Times
24-04-2025
- Science
- Powys County Times
Last chance to see historical Lyrids meteor shower in UK
Brits have one final chance to see a special meteor shower that forms 'glowing trails' in the sky this week. This year, the Lyrid meteor shower, said to be the oldest recorded in history, has been active since April 12 and peaked on the night of April 22. However, the celestial event which has been around since the seventh century BC is ending soon, with April 25 being the last time it will appear in the sky until 2026. So, what exactly is the Lyrid meteor shower, and when is the best time to see it in its final hours? Tips for Night Sky Photos on Your Phone What is the Lyrid meteor shower? The Lyrids are created by debris from Comet Thatcher, which was discovered in 1861. Royal Museums Greenwhich shared: "The Lyrid meteor shower is associated with long-period Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher. It is the oldest recorded meteor shower still visible today, and was first recorded in 687 BCE. "While the Lyrid meteors will be visible all across the sky, following their path backwards they will appear to originate from the constellation of Lyra, the lyre, which contains the star Vega. "In reality the meteors have nothing to do with this distant group of stars. The direction they appear to come from is dictated by the motion of the Earth and the debris itself." It added: "All of the meteors are coming in approximately parallel to one another, like lanes of traffic on a straight motorway. "Our perspective makes them appear to travel sideways across the sky. "Just as a person standing on the central reservation of the motorway will have cars pass on either side of them, the meteors will appear to diverge from the so-called radiant point in Lyra and streak across the sky in all directions. "Very rarely a meteor will be particularly bright, with those appearing brighter than any of the planets (Venus being typically the brightest) classed as a fireball." Must-See Sky Events in 2025 Meanwhile, Dr Shyam Balaji, a researcher in astroparticle physics and cosmology at King's College London, told The Telegraph: 'As these comet particles burn up in our atmosphere, they produce bright streaks of light, what we see as meteors.' When can you see the Lyrid meteor shower? Best time Dr Balaji added: 'They are visible from most of the world, but they are best seen from the Northern Hemisphere. 'Southern Hemisphere viewers can still catch some meteors, though the visibility there is less. 'While they're usually modest – about 10–20 meteors per hour at the peak – they occasionally produce meteor outbursts, with up to 100 meteors per hour. Lyrid meteors are known for being bright and fast, often leaving glowing trails in the sky that linger for a few seconds.' If you've never seen a meteor in real life, tomorrow night might be your chance! 🌠 Tomorrow, the Lyrid meteor shower will reach its peak with 18 meteors expected to be visible per hour! Let's look at what a meteor shower is. We'll even share our tips on how to catch the best… — Natural History Museum (@NHM_London) April 21, 2025 Experts suggest looking for the Lyrid meteor shower in the early hours of the morning on Friday. Recommended reading: Dr Sam Rolfe, an astronomer at the University of Hertfordshire explained: 'Meteor showers typically have the highest rates in the early hours of the morning but can be seen any time the sky is dark. 'Dark sky locations around the UK would provide the best skies but a garden or local park is also fine. The Moon doesn't rise until around 3am, so the naturally dark skies will make for good meteor shower viewing.'
Mint
22-04-2025
- Science
- Mint
Lyrid Meteor Showers 2025: When and where to watch —a complete guide to viewing the spectacle in India
India's night skies are all set to dazzle as the Lyrid meteor shower makes its annual appearance, bringing with it centuries of astronomical legacy and a chance to marvel at one of nature's most elegant sky shows. Active from April 17 to April 26, the Lyrids will peak on the night of April 21 into the early hours of April 22, offering prime viewing conditions across much of the country, provided the weather is clear and moonlight is limited. The Lyrid meteor shower is among the oldest documented meteor showers in history, with Chinese records dating back to 687 BCE. These meteors originate from Comet Thatcher (C/1861 G1), a long-period comet discovered in the 19th century. As Earth passes through the dust trail left by the comet during its orbital journey around the Sun, tiny fragments—no larger than grains of sand—collide with our atmosphere at nearly 49 km/s. These fiery encounters result in the luminous streaks we call shooting stars. While many modern meteor showers can be predicted with great precision, the Lyrids are known for their unpredictable bursts of activity. Most years, the shower delivers a modest 10 to 20 meteors per hour, but historical records note occasional surges—up to 90 meteors per hour, as seen in the 1982 outburst. Though no such spike is forecasted for 2025, the chance of witnessing bright fireballs and persistent trails remains high. The peak viewing window for Indian observers will be in the pre-dawn hours of April 22, between 3:00 am and 5:00 am, when the radiant point in the constellation Lyra climbs highest in the northeastern sky. However, since the shower continues through April 26, stargazers still have several nights to catch residual meteors, especially if skies are clear and moonlight is minimal. Although the Moon will be in a waning gibbous phase this year, that is, rising late at night, it shouldn't obscure the brightest meteors, particularly those seen later in the early morning hours. No special equipment is needed to watch this meteor shower. The key is patience and dark adaptation. Experts recommend lying flat on your back, facing away from city lights, and allowing 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness. Using red-filtered lights or apps with night mode can help preserve night vision. Beyond their beauty, meteor showers like the Lyrids hold significance for both scientists and stargazers alike. For researchers, they offer opportunities to study the composition of comets and the interaction between celestial debris and Earth's atmosphere. For the public, especially in India where skywatching has deep roots in traditional astronomy and mythology, these events provide a moment of cosmic reflection—reminders of our planet's place in the vast universe. The Lyrids also kick off a series of meteor showers in 2025, with the Eta Aquarids in May, the Perseids in August, and the year-ending Geminids in December, which are considered the most spectacular. But the Lyrids remain special for their history, sudden flares of brilliance, and their timing with early summer nights—cool, clear, and perfect for stargazing. First Published: 22 Apr 2025, 09:06 PM IST
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Lyrid meteor shower to light up night skies over UK
The Lyrid meteor shower is predicted to peak on Tuesday night, with streaks of light dotting the night sky. The annual celestial event has been observed since the seventh century BC, making it the oldest recorded meteor shower in history. A meteor shower – otherwise known as shooting stars – occurs when asteroids or comets enter Earth's atmosphere at very high speeds and burn up. 'As comets orbit the Sun, the heat and radiation pressure evaporates material from the icy cometary nucleus, which we see as a comet's tail,' said Prof Don Pollacco, of the University of Warwick. 'The gas and dust created stay in the comet's orbit even long after the comet has moved on. If the Earth passes through the comet's orbit, any material deposited by the comet could become meteors or shooting stars in the sky. 'These bodies are usually the size of dust particles but when they fall into the Earth's atmosphere they are travelling so fast that they are vaporised. Along the path that the dust particle travels, the gas molecules are superheated and give out light – this is a meteor.' The Lyrids are created by debris from Comet Thatcher, which orbits the Sun and was discovered in 1861. 'The Lyrids are caused by Earth passing through the dusty trail left by Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, a long-period comet that orbits the Sun roughly every 415 years,' said Dr Shyam Balaji, a researcher in astroparticle physics and cosmology at King's College London. 'As these comet particles burn up in our atmosphere, they produce bright streaks of light, what we see as meteors.' The Lyrids will be visible throughout Britain. 'The Lyrids are visible from most of the world but they are best seen from the Northern Hemisphere,' said Dr Balaji. 'Southern Hemisphere viewers can still catch some meteors, though the visibility there is less. 'While they're usually modest – about 10–20 meteors per hour at the peak – they occasionally produce meteor outbursts, with up to 100 meteors per hour. 'Lyrid meteors are known for being bright and fast, often leaving glowing trails in the sky that linger for a few seconds.' Experts recommend looking for the meteor shower in the early hours of the morning. 'Meteor showers typically have the highest rates in the early hours of the morning but can be seen any time the sky is dark,' said Dr Sam Rolfe, an astronomer at the University of Hertfordshire. 'Dark sky locations around the UK would provide the best skies but a garden or local park is also fine. The Moon doesn't rise until around 3am, so the naturally dark skies will make for good meteor shower viewing. 'At the height of the shower, observers can expect to see up to 18 meteors per hour but this is dependent on the density of the debris cloud and the artificial light pollution levels at the site of observation as fainter meteors are less likely to be spotted in areas with artificial light pollution.' No specialist equipment is required to view the Lyrids, according to Dr Robert Massey, deputy executive director of the Royal Astronomical Society. 'The good thing about a meteor shower – and the Lyrids are no exception – is that you don't need any special equipment,' he said. 'The best equipment is just your eyes, looking up at the sky. Now in this particularly case, the radiant – the point of the sky they appear to come from – is in the constellation of Lyra, near the bright star Vega, part of the Summer Triangle.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
22-04-2025
- Science
- Telegraph
Lyrid meteor shower to light up night skies over UK
The Lyrid meteor shower is predicted to peak on Tuesday night, with streaks of light dotting the night sky. The annual celestial event has been observed since the seventh century BC, making it the oldest recorded meteor shower in history. What is a meteor shower? A meteor shower – otherwise known as shooting stars – occurs when asteroids or comets enter Earth's atmosphere at very high speeds and burn up. 'As comets orbit the Sun, the heat and radiation pressure evaporates material from the icy cometary nucleus, which we see as a comet's tail,' said Prof Don Pollacco, of the University of Warwick. 'The gas and dust created stay in the comet's orbit even long after the comet has moved on. If the Earth passes through the comet's orbit, any material deposited by the comet could become meteors or shooting stars in the sky. 'These bodies are usually the size of dust particles but when they fall into the Earth's atmosphere they are travelling so fast that they are vaporised. Along the path that the dust particle travels, the gas molecules are superheated and give out light – this is a meteor.' What are the Lyrids? The Lyrids are created by debris from Comet Thatcher, which orbits the Sun and was discovered in 1861. 'The Lyrids are caused by Earth passing through the dusty trail left by Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, a long-period comet that orbits the Sun roughly every 415 years,' said Dr Shyam Balaji, a researcher in astroparticle physics and cosmology at King's College London. 'As these comet particles burn up in our atmosphere, they produce bright streaks of light, what we see as meteors.' Where will the meteor shower be visible? The Lyrids will be visible throughout Britain. 'The Lyrids are visible from most of the world but they are best seen from the Northern Hemisphere,' said Dr Balaji. 'Southern Hemisphere viewers can still catch some meteors, though the visibility there is less. 'While they're usually modest – about 10–20 meteors per hour at the peak – they occasionally produce meteor outbursts, with up to 100 meteors per hour. 'Lyrid meteors are known for being bright and fast, often leaving glowing trails in the sky that linger for a few seconds.' What time should I look? Experts recommend looking for the meteor shower in the early hours of the morning. 'Meteor showers typically have the highest rates in the early hours of the morning but can be seen any time the sky is dark,' said Dr Sam Rolfe, an astronomer at the University of Hertfordshire. 'Dark sky locations around the UK would provide the best skies but a garden or local park is also fine. The Moon doesn't rise until around 3am, so the naturally dark skies will make for good meteor shower viewing. 'At the height of the shower, observers can expect to see up to 18 meteors per hour but this is dependent on the density of the debris cloud and the artificial light pollution levels at the site of observation as fainter meteors are less likely to be spotted in areas with artificial light pollution.' Do I need any equipment? No specialist equipment is required to view the Lyrids, according to Dr Robert Massey, deputy executive director of the Royal Astronomical Society. 'The good thing about a meteor shower – and the Lyrids are no exception – is that you don't need any special equipment,' he said. 'The best equipment is just your eyes, looking up at the sky. Now in this particularly case, the radiant – the point of the sky they appear to come from – is in the constellation of Lyra, near the bright star Vega, part of the Summer Triangle.'
India Today
22-04-2025
- Science
- India Today
Lyrid Meteor shower 2025: When, where and how to watch in India
The Lyrid Meteor Shower is observable on much of the globe, with many meteors visible each hour. You need a clear evening, a dark location free of city lights, and a sit or lie-back location. Here's everything you want to know about the Lyrid Meteor Shower in April Lyrid Meteor Shower, or April Lyrids, is one of the oldest recorded meteor showers. It occurs annually between April 15 and April 29, with the peak occurring on the night of April 22 and early morning of April meteor shower is due to a comet known as Comet Thatcher (C/1861 G1). As the Earth passes through the dust trail left behind by this comet, small bits of debris come into our atmosphere at high speed. When these particles disintegrate, they produce bright streaks of light in the sky, which we refer to as meteors or shooting TO OBSERVE THE LYRID METEOR SHOWER IN APRIL 2025? The Lyrids will appear between April 15 and April 29, but the prime time to observe them is during the peak night on April 22 and in the early hours of April 23. The ideal time for observation is from midnight to 5:00 am, right before sunrise. These are the darkest hours when the sky will be most observable, and the meteors will be less difficult to meteor shower is visible in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, including India. For a better opportunity to witness the spectacle, go to a dark, quiet location far from street lights and the city. Face the northeast region of the sky, and keep watching. The longer you stay, the TO SEE THE LYRID METEOR SHOWER?advertisementThe Lyrid Meteor Shower can be viewed from most locations around the globe. Although it appears in both hemispheres, the Northern Hemisphere tends to have a slightly better fully appreciate the meteor shower:Find a dark spot, a village, a park, or a hilltop that is far from the lights of a sleeping bag or blanket, so you can recline and observe the sky in use your phone or bright lights. Your eyes take a while to get used to the the skies are clear, you might be able to spot 15 to 20 meteors per hour, and perhaps even some bright ones with glowing the Lyrid Meteor Shower is a relaxing and thrilling way of getting close to nature, and you don't have to use any equipment, only your eyes and a bit of Watch
