Ukrainians will see the peak of the Lyrid meteor shower on the night of April 22
On the night of April 22, the sky over Ukraine may be the setting for one of the most famous spring meteor showers—the Lyrids, which reach their peak during this period. Observers will have a chance to see dozens of “shooting stars” per hour, weather permitting and provided there is no city light pollution. This phenomenon occurs every year, but can sometimes surprise observers with sudden bursts of activity. This is reported by Space.com.
The best time to observe the Lyrids is in the pre-dawn hours of April 22, when the radiant of the meteor shower rises highest above the horizon and the sky is still dark enough. After sunrise, visibility deteriorates sharply, so the main “show” takes place at night and at dawn.
The Lyrids are particles left behind by Comet Thatcher, which orbits the Sun approximately every 415 years. It last approached the Sun in 1861, leaving behind a dust trail that Earth crosses every year in mid-spring. On average, during the shower, you can see 15 to 20 meteors per hour, but sometimes activity spikes sharply, reaching as many as 100 meteors per hour. Such “bursts” are rare and difficult to predict, which makes the Lyrids particularly unpredictable.
Astronomers note that the Lyrid meteor shower is visible every year from April 16 to 25, but it is the peak of activity, which falls on the 22nd, that offers the best chance to see bright meteors. No special equipment is needed for observation—all you need is a dark sky and a little patience to spot the fast flashes streaking across the night sky.
Also, two astronomical events are expected on the evening of April 19.
