STARGAZERS have not one but TWO celestial displays to look forward to in the coming days.
The Lyrids meteor shower and a full pink moon will both grace night skies above the US this week.
The Lyrid meteor shower is set to begin on April 14, before peaking on April 22 when about 18 “shooting stars” will appear per hour.
This year’s Pink Moon will be visible on the evening of April 16, kicking off about half an hour before sunset at 8.27 p.m.
Read our pink moon and Lyrids meteor shower live blog for the latest news and updates…
-
When will the Lyrids shower begin?
The dazzling Lyrid meteor shower is set to begin on April 14 and you can spot the shooting stars throughout this month.
This year’s showing will continue until April 30 and is due to peak on the night of April 22, when about 18 “shooting stars” will appear per hour.
-
What are the Lyrids? continued
You don’t necessarily need to look in a certain area as the meteors can appear all over the sky.
The Lyrid shower is one of the oldest known, with records of visible meteors going back 2,700 years.
The best time to spot the meteors is early in the morning or in the evening before the moon rises.
-
What are the Lyrids?
The Lyrids happen each April and occur when Earth’s orbit takes it through a comet’s tail.
The meteor shower is made from falling debris from the comet Thatcher.
It gets its name from the Lyra constellation as sometimes the meteors look like they’re radiating from a place near that location.
-
What is happening this week?
There are two celestial events set to happen this week.
The Lyrids meteor shower and a full pink moon will both grace night skies above the US.
