Lyrid Meteor Shower Will Peak This Weekend

The Lyrids, which peak during late April, are one of the oldest known meteor showers: they have been observed for 2,700 years (the first recorded sighting of a Lyrid meteor shower goes back to 687 BC by the Chinese).

You can view the celestial excitement yourself this weekend!

NASA offers tips for the best viewing experience:

• The best time is after moonset and before dawn
• Try to get as far away from cities and street lights as possible. Our area can be full of light pollution, so try to head into the woods or somewhere remote.
• Bring a sleeping bag, blanket or lawn chair, and lay as flat as possible with your feet facing East.
• Give yourself time (about 30 minutes) for your eyes to fully adjust to the dark, and you'll be able to detect the meteors.

You should be able to spot 10-20 meteors per hour, shooting across the sky at 30 miles per second!

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