A meteor from the Lyrid meteor shower.
Image Credit: Islam Hassan/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0
April 15, 2024 - 6:00 AM
The Lyrids meteor shower is starting and sky watchers in Kamloops and the Okanagan will have ample opportunity to view it.
One of the oldest meteor showers, which is known for fast and bright meteors, the Lyrids have been observed for 2,700 years, according to NASA.
While Lyrids don’t usually leave long, glowing dust trains behind them as they go through the atmosphere, they can make occasional bright flashes called fireballs to watch for.
Meteors come from dust and particles left over from comets moving around the sun. When Earth passes through the debris trails, the bits collide with the atmosphere and light up while they disintegrate. Lyrids are created by debris left by comet C/1861 G1.
The Lyrids will appear to radiate from the constellation Lyra near the bright star Vega.
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The best way to view meteors is to find a space away from light pollution, get comfortable and stare up at the sky until your eyes adapt to the dark.
The Lyrids will streak across night skies from April 15 to 29, reaching a peak the night of Sunday, April 21 when up to 18 meteors per hour will be visible.
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