How to Watch the Spectacular 2015 Lyrid Meteor Shower Tomorrow

First Posted: Apr 21, 2015 11:01 AM EDT
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Make sure to look to the skies this week. The Lyrid meteor shower is set to put on quite the show. The annual meteor shower is active each year from about April 16 and April 25, but you'll be able to catch the peak of this sky show tomorrow before dawn.

Each year, Earth passes through the dusty tail of Comet Thatcher (C/1861 G1), which causes a meteor shower, named the Lyrids. This year, it's estimated that you may be able to see as many as 10 to 20 meteors per hour. However, outbursts of as many as 100 meteors per hour are possible.

The peak of the shower will occur on the mornings of April 22 or 23. You should see the greatest number of meteors "falling" during the few hours before dawn on either date. Because the moon is a waxing crescent moon, the sky will be dark enough to catch a glimpse of this event.

The best views of the meteors will be in Europe. However, you should still be able to see the meteor shower in the United States. You can also watch a livestream of the event, hosted by Slooh, beginning at 8 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, April 22.

To see the meteors, get out of the city and into the country before dawn; the best times will be after midnight. Look upward, get comfortable and allow your eyes to adjust. You should be able to see "shooting stars" streak across the sky if you are patient. The Lyrids can appear anywhere in the sky, so you don't need to look towards the radiant.

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