The April Lyrids are one of the most beautiful shows that can be seen in the skies in April. More specifically, the well-known meteor shower It is a phenomenon that usually occurs in mid-April, between on April 16 and 25, coinciding with the spring of the northern hemisphere of the Earth. During these dates, our planet approaches the waste zone of the G1 Thatcher, a comet discovered in 1861 that leaves behind a trail of fragments which, upon contact with the earth’s atmosphere, catches up and gives the nice visual effect of the shooting stars.
The Lyrids reach speeds of up to 200,000 kilometers per hour and this year they will fall at a rate of 18 shooting stars per hour at peak times, although there have been years when they have fallen as fast as 90 per hour.
colored tail
These meteors are notable for being brighter than other meteor showers because they leave trails of ionized gas that linger for a few seconds after the meteor has passed, with a momentary tail of color.
And this is an excellent year for the observation of the Lyrids, since their moment of maximum activity will take place two days after the new Moon (the new moon will take place on April 20).
The maximum activity of the rain is therefore expected for the night of April 22 to 23, the day of Sant Jordi. As the moon is changing to the first quarter -a phase it will reach on the 27th-, its thin silhouette will not have the necessary brightness to prevent observation in optimal conditions throughout the night.
high points
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It is not always easy to glimpse the meteors in the sky, especially when we do it in cities or places with high Light pollution. For this reason, experts recommend seeing them from high points or far from the city. Rural areas, beaches or rooftops are good places to watch the rain, as they provide clearer skies.
The best way to observe meteor showers is to do it with the naked eye, without binoculars or telescopes that limit the field of vision. “It is convenient to direct the gaze towards the darkest areas, in the opposite direction to the position of the moon if the observation is made when it is present. The most comfortable thing is to lie down and wait for the sight to get used to the darkness”, they advise from the Spanish National Astronomical Observatory.