How to watch the peak of the Lyrid Meteor Shower in central Ohio
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Stargazers are in for a special show starting this Sunday with the peak of the Lyrid Meteor Shower.
Space.com says the Lyrid Meteor Shower is an annual event from around April 16 to April 25. Its peak dates in central Ohio will be from Sunday, April 21 to Monday, April 22, where Timeanddate.com notes that up to 18 fireballs could be visible per hour. However, the Moon will be almost full (98.4%) on Sunday, which could reduce the visibility of the falling meteors.
The Lyrids are the oldest recorded meteor showers, with historical texts mentioning them more than 2,000 years ago. The “shooting stars” seen in the sky are created by the comet Thatcher which releases fragments of itself while traveling through space that burn up upon entering the Earth’s atmosphere.
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Observers can enjoy the Lyrids just by looking into the night sky without special equipment. To see the Lyrids NASA recommends finding an area away from city lights. It is also a good idea for watchers to dress for the weather, the overnight forecast calls for clear and chilly conditions with a low of 36.
Spectators should look to the northeastern sky and find the constellation Lyra. Meteors will appear to radiate from near this constellation. The best time to view will be between midnight and dawn.
A meteor spotting tool map can detail how clear it will be at night. The tool allows users to enter a date range and a location, to see the times with the best visibility.
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