The Lyrid Meteor shower will peak this Friday and Saturday April 22-23.
BEST VIEWING: Midnight – 2 AM.
WHERE TO LOOK: The meteors radiate near the bright star Vega in the constellation Lyra the Harp, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
NASA says the Lyrids are pieces of debris from the periodic Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher and have been observed for more than 2,600 years. “In mid-April of each year, Earth runs into the stream of debris from the comet, which causes the Lyrid meteor shower.”
In this 30 second exposure, a meteor streaks across the sky in Spruce Knob, West Virginia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
While clear skies are in the forecast during the meteor shower for the WCCB Charlotte viewing area, this will not be a spectacular event. For those under dark conditions, expect 15-20 meteor per hour. Suburban sky-watchers may see about half that. Those in and around the city will struggle to see any.
