How to watch Lyrid meteor shower as it delivers up to 20 fireballs per hour - MLive.com

By Benjamin Raven | braven@mlive.com | Posted April 22, 2019 at 08:30 AM

The annual Lyrid meteor showers are expected to peak Monday night, April 22 into Tuesday morning, and this post will run through everything you need to know to catch those fireballs in the sky. NASA says the Lyrids have been observed for 2,700 years dating all the way back to ancient China in 687 BC.

"The Lyrids are known for their fast and bright meteors, though not as fast or as plentiful as the famous Perseids in August, Lyrids can surprise watchers with as many as 100 meteors seen per hour," the U.S. space agency says of them.

"Lyrids frequently leave glowing dust trains behind them as they streak through the Earth's atmosphere. These trains can be observable for several seconds."

By: Benjamin Raven | braven@mlive.com

As this year's Lyrid meteor shower peaks Tuesday morning, we could be treated to as many as 20 fireballs per hour in the sky.

Unfortunately for those of us in Michigan, we are listed in the poor to fair visibility during the prime days of Lyrid watching between Sunday and Tuesday. This comes after back-to-back years of great visibility for the annual showers in most parts of the Great Lakes State.

For those wondering how to watch the action, NASA notes that no special equipment is required.

"Simply find a dark, open sky away from artificial lights," the U.S. space agency writes on its website.

"Lie down comfortably on a blanket or lawn chair, and look straight up."

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