US EditionPublished • loading... • Updated
Earth's oldest meteor shower appears this week — Here's how to see it
- Starting April 16 and peaking April 21-22, 2026, the annual Lyrid meteor shower will illuminate the night sky as Earth passes through debris from Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher.
- Dating back to 687 BCE, this shower occurs when fragments from Comet Thatcher, which orbits the sun every 415 years, burn up in Earth's atmosphere.
- To maximize visibility, find a dark location away from city lights and head outside after midnight when the radiant point near star Vega in Lyra rises high.
- Viewers might witness 10 to 20 meteors per hour, with occasional bright 'fireballs' produced by larger debris, according to the Royal Observatory's guidance for optimal viewing.
- The Eta Aquariid meteor shower begins later this month and peaks in May, while planetary conjunctions involving Saturn, Mercury, and Mars remain visible in the coming days.
Insights by Ground AI
38 Articles
38 Articles
Astronomical lovers will be able to see the rain of Lírid meteors this April, one of the oldest recorded events.The phenomenon originates from fragments of the comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, which, when entering the atmosphere, generate luminous flashes known as “loose stars”.When will be the best time to see the Líridas?The peak of activity of this meteor shower of April will be recorded between the night of the 21st and the dawn of the 22.The hours…
·Buenos Aires, Argentina
Read Full Article
Coverage Details
Total News Sources38
Leaning Left4Leaning Right2Center25Last UpdatedBias Distribution81% Center
Bias Distribution
- 81% of the sources are Center
81% Center
13%
C 81%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
