WHEN
The Lyrid meteor shower began on April 16th and continues through April 25th.
The peak of the shower was April 21st into the morning hours of April 22, but you can still see some meteors over the next couple of nights.
HOW MANY
The Lyrids are known for being bright and fast meteors.
You’ll typically see between 10 and 20 meteors per hour during peak timing, but meteors are still visible outside of peak hours.
HISTORY
The Lyrids, which peak in April, are one of the oldest recorded meteor showers.
The earliest sightings of the Lyrids on record dates back to approximately 2,700 years ago by the Chinese.
VIEWING
The Lyrid meteors are best viewed during predawn hours away from city lights.
Especially since we’re now out of the peak time frame, you may want to lie down in a chair or on a blanket for viewing, as meteors may not be as frequent.
Look toward the eastern sky, allowing your eyes to adjust to the darkness for 20 to 30 minutes.
Tonight’s skies across Southeast Michigan will be mainly clear.
Thursday night will be partly cloudy, and although the meteor shower will continue, we expect more clouds and rain to move in for Friday night.
Meteors move quickly, so look for a quick trail of light through the dark sky.