Meteors are debris\u00a0burning up in the atmosphere\u00a0<\/p>\n
It\u2019s that time of year again, but are you willing to stay up late to catch a glimpse of one of the oldest meteor showers known?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tonight, the Lyrid meteor shower \u2014 which happens each year around this time \u2014 reaches its peak, although it will continue until April 30.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The meteors will glow brightly in the sky after the moon sets, but will only be visible to those in areas where the conditions are right and who are looking in the right spot in the sky.<\/p>\n
But what are the Lyrids and who will be able to see them? Let\u2019s take a look.\u00a0<\/p>\n
First, what are the Lyrids?\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Lyrids, according to NASA, are one of the oldest meteor showers we know of, with the first recorded sighting in 687 BC by the Chinese.<\/p>\n
Meteor showers happen when rocks and debris \u2014 typically coming from comets and asteroids \u2014 burn up in Earth’s atmosphere.<\/p>\n
You can find out more about meteor showers in the video below.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The Lyrid meteor shower happens annually in April when Earth passes through debris left over from the comet C\/1861 G1 Thatcher, which orbits the sun.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It\u2019s called the Lyrid meteor shower because it can be seen from around the constellation Lyra.\u00a0<\/p>\n
How to catch a glimpse<\/p>\n
According to NASA, the Lyrids are best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere, which includes Canada, after the moon sets and before the sun rises.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The meteor shower is most clearly viewed away from city lights, which cause light pollution.<\/p>\n
The NASA website recommends bringing a blanket, sleeping bag or lawn chair, pointing your feet east and looking up at the sky, allowing your eyes about 30 minutes to adjust.<\/p>\n
The Lyrids can have 10 to 20 meteors per hour on average, giving viewers plenty of opportunities to catch a glimpse.<\/p>\n
A final tip: the Lyrids appear to radiate close to the star Vega, which is one of the brightest stars in the night sky, so locating Vega can be a helpful way of finding the Lyrids.<\/p>\n
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