Tuesday, April 21, marks the start of stargazers’ best chance to watch the Lyrid meteors streaking across Michigan skies.
The Lyrid meteor shower peaks overnight April 21-22. One of the oldest known meteor showers has been observed for more than 2,700 years, according to NASA. The spectacle was first documented by the Chinese in 687 BC.
The Lyrids debris comes from comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, named for A.E. Thatcher, who discovered the object on April 5, 1861, NASA said.
Here’s what to know about the Lyrids.
When will the Lyrids peak?
The Lyrid meteor shower peaks April 21-22, according to the American Meteor Society. The Lyrids are active April 14 to April 30.
How many meteors will be visible?
While NASA notes that the Lyrids can surprise watchers with as many as 100 meteors seen per hour, in general, 10-20 meteors can be seen per hour during the peak.
Lyrids don’t tend to leave long, glowing dust trains behind them as they streak through the Earth’s atmosphere, but they can produce the occasional bright flash called a fireball.
Will the weather be clear enough to see the Lyrids?
The best chances to see the meteor shower are in northern Michigan and the U.P. Southwest and Southeast Michigan will see cloudy skies with chances of rain overnight. Cloud cover dissipates farther north.
Saginaw, Gaylord and areas farther north should see mostly clear to clear skies overnight.
Where’s the best place to see the Lyrids?
Look for a clear, open area to view the Lyrid meteor shower in Michigan’s night sky. Michigan is home to six dark sky state parks, three international dark sky parks and an international dark sky sanctuary.
What causes the Lyrid meteor shower?
Meteor showers occur when the Earth passes through dusty debris trails left by comets and broken asteroid bits as they orbit the sun, NASA says. The debris collides with Earth’s atmosphere at high speed and disintegrates, creating fiery and colorful streaks in the sky.
The Lyrids debris comes from comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, named for A.E. Thatcher, who discovered it on April 5, 1861, NASA said.
How can you get the best view of the Lyrids?
Though named after Lyra because the meteors seem to emerge — or radiate — from near the Vega star in the constellation, NASA advises stargazers to look away from the constellation for longer views.
Here are some general viewing tips from the space agency:
It should take less than 30 minutes for your eyes to adapt so that you can see streaking meteors. But be patient, NASA warns: the show will last until dawn.
Meteors, meteorites, meteoroids — which is it?
Those are words that sound similar, but there are important differences.
When is the next meteor shower?
The eta Aquariids meteor shower is active April 19 until May 28, and peaks May 5-6.
USA TODAY contributed.
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lyrid meteors will streak across Michigan skies as spectacle peaks
Reporting by Jenna Prestininzi and Eric Lagatta, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
