WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - Astro Minute: Lyrid Meteor Shower
Episode Date: April 9, 2025Get ready for this nighttime shower on today's episode of Astro Minute! ...
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Welcome to the Astro Minute, where we're exploring the universe 60 seconds out of time.
I'm Lauren Smith, and today we're looking for Lirids.
The Lyrid Meteor Shower was first recorded over 2,700 years ago,
but it wasn't until 1861 that its source was discovered,
Comet Thatcher, which, despite only circling the sun once every 415 years,
has left an ample trail of debris for our planet to traverse each year.
The Lirids will be active the last half of April and produce a range of the world.
15 meteors per hour at their peak on April 21st and 22nd.
They will appear to originate in the sky around bright Vega in the constellation Lira,
which rises in late evenings to the northeast.
To see these cosmic fireworks lie flat in a dark area in the late evening
to view as much of the sky as possible.
Avoid any light sources except red light,
including your phone as it will hinder your night vision for at least 20 minutes.
That's your Astro Minute.