Tonight brings one of the more underrated but fascinating skywatching events of the year, the peak of the Lyrids meteor shower.
This isn’t just any meteor shower either. The Lyrids have been observed for over 2,600 years, making them one of the oldest recorded celestial events still visible today. Every year around this time, Earth passes through a trail of debris left behind by Comet Thatcher, and that’s what creates the show.
As those tiny particles enter Earth’s atmosphere, they burn up and streak across the sky as bright flashes of light.
At peak, under clear and dark skies, you can expect to see around 10 to 20 meteors per hour, sometimes more if conditions are right. What makes the Lyrids stand out is their speed and brightness, with some meteors leaving behind glowing trails that linger for a few seconds after they pass.
It’s one of those quiet, natural events that doesn’t require much, just a clear sky and a bit of time, but delivers a pretty incredible reminder of what’s happening above us every single night.
