How to watch the 2023 Lyrid meteor shower in the UK: when will the Lyrid meteors peak and where to watch them

The Lyrid meteor shower will once again light up the night sky this month.

One of the most famous meteor showers in the world, the Lyrids occur annually in April and have been observed by humans for over 2,500 years.

They are caused by the intersection of the Earth’s orbit with the debris trail left by Comet Thatcher.

Here’s what you need to know.

When is the Lyrid meteor shower?

The Lyrids will be active from 14 to 30 April, peaking on the night of 22 April into the early hours of 23 April.

You should be able to see bright, fast meteors, some with trains, at a rate of about 18 meteors per hour.

What are Lyrids?

The Lyrids are one of the oldest known meteor showers, with records dating back 2700 years. They say that in 687 BC. ancient Chinese Lyrid meteors were observed to fall “like rain”.

Lyrids are formed as a result of the interaction of the Earth’s atmosphere with the dust trail left by Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher.

When debris enters the Earth’s atmosphere, they burn up, leaving a trail of light in the sky.

What is the best way to see it?

You don’t need a telescope or even binoculars to see a meteor shower, you can see it with the naked eye.

All meteors seem to come from the constellation Lyra (hence the name Lyrids), which contains the star Vega. You can see where Vega is in the sky with the stargazing app.

However, you do not need to look at this star to see the meteors, as they are visible in the sky.

As the Royal Museums Greenwich explains: “In fact, meteors have nothing to do with this distant group of stars. The direction from which they appear is determined by the movement of the earth and the debris itself.

The best thing you can do is go outside and get used to the darkness for 15-20 minutes and then look up, ideally in a not very built-up area like a field or park that you can come to walk with. wide view. line of sight.

The Royal Greenwich Museums add: “The best time to see a shower is usually early morning on peak days. Wait until midnight when the shining dot rises in the constellation Lyra in the east.

“The later you wait for the morning, the higher the radiant rises and the fewer meteors will be hidden below the horizon. But as sunrise approaches, the sky clears up, so plan accordingly!”