Lyrid meteor shower

News & Press: Natural world

22 April 2021 (0 Comments)

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The shower peaks on 22 April but will be visible until the 29th.

The meteors - associated with Comet Thatcher, the oldest recorded meteor shower still visible today - are very fast and can be bright with trails; there can be up to 18 per hour.

The meteors will appear to originate from the constellation of Lyra, the lyre, which contains the star Vega, but they should be visible across the entire sky. The best time for viewing is after midnight, when they should radiate from the east.

Further details from: Royal Museums Greenwich