EUROPE: The biggest, best and brightest meteor shower in the month of April – The Lyrids – is on its way, with the best viewing likely to be the evenings of April 22nd and April 23rd.
According to astronomers, the absolute best times on those two days will be just before dawn, though the unpredictability of the Lyrids means that there’s certainly no way of knowing for sure. In fact, director of the NASA Meteoroid Environment Office in Huntsville, Alabama, Bill Cooke, said that the best estimate he can make for this year’s Lyrid meteor shower is anywhere from 15 to 20 meteors per hour.
Viewing conditions should be ideal in regions with little to no cloud cover, as the crescent moon means little light will wash out the night sky. In addition, the moon should set well in advance of the light show. NASA recommends finding a dark patch of open sky far from any artificial light pollution such as a wide field for optimal viewing conditions; bring a lawn chair to sit on or a blanket to lie down to save your neck, and just gaze upwards. Sadly, wide swathes of the United States are forecast to receive heavy thunderstorms on at least the 22nd, making it unlikely that some Americans – especially in the Gulf Coast region of the Southeast – will have a chance to spot any meteors.
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