Stargazers are in for a treat this weekend: this year’s Lyrid Meteor Shower is expected to light up the skies over Canada, potentially dazzling spectators with up to 20 meteors an hour.
Experts say the annual event is expected to peak on Sunday, but will be visible for several days before and after. Here’s what you need to know.
Why do meteor showers happen?
According to John Percy, professor emeritus of astronomy at the University of Toronto, meteor showers happen when multiple space rocks enter and burn up in Earth’s atmosphere, appearing as bright streaks across the sky — or “shooting stars.”
This most commonly happens when Earth’s orbit encounters the debris left behind by an icy comet: “When the ice turns to vapour, as the comet nears the sun, the dust is left behind along the comet’s orbit,” Percy said.
Meteor streaks typically last a second or two before dissipating in the atmosphere, Percy continued
What’s the Lyrid Meteor shower?
The Lyrid Meteor Shower is among the oldest meteor showers recorded, having first been documented by Chinese astronomers back in 687 B.C., said Suresh Sivanandam, an associate professor at U of T’s Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics.
“It’s the oldest recorded meteor shower that still is visible now,” he said, explaining that it returns to Earth’s sky every April.
“The reason it’s called the Lyrid meteor shower is because it’s close to the constellation Lyra,” present in the northern sky, Sivanandam continued. “You will see it in that general direction.”
Lyrid meteors are made from the debris of Comet Thatcher, a long-period comet discovered in 1861, Percy said.
When is the Lyrid shower?
According to Percy, the shower is expected to peak around Sunday, though it will still be visible for several days before and after.
Sivanandam said the shower becomes visible only when it’s dark enough, typically starting a couple hours after sunset and lasting until the early dawn.
While the Toronto sky is expected to be cloudy Friday night, Sivanandam said, “You might be able to catch it tomorrow night if the weather’s clear.”
How to watch the Lyrid Meteor Shower
You won’t need any special equipment to see the shower, just some warm clothes and a thermos of hot cocoa, Sivanandam explained.
That said, Torontonians likely won’t be able to catch it from the heart of the city, given the light pollution: “Trying to find a spot where there is not much city lighting is probably the most important,” he continued.
Sivanandam recommends heading a little way outside of Toronto, ideally to a flat area with no trees or tall buildings blocking the view. Plop down a deck chair or blanket, relax and enjoy the show.
Remember to check the weather forecast before you go — “Unfortunately, if it’s cloudy, you’re not going to see anything,” he said.
That said, it’s not guaranteed that you’ll see “50 or 60 meteorites in the sky — it can come in bursts,” Sivanandam continued. “You have to be patient.”
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2023-04-21 21:15:41Z
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