Lyrid Meteor Shower Peaks This Week, Documented Since 687 B.C.E.

The Lyrid meteor shower is set to peak on April 22 at 3:15 p.m. Eastern time, but the best time to catch the show will be from the late evening of April 21 until dawn on April 22. Typically, you can expect to see 10 to 20 meteors each hour, zipping along at 29 miles per second, though sometimes you might catch bursts of up to 100 meteors per hour. These meteors come from the debris of comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, which was discovered by A. E. Thatcher in 1861 and has a long orbit of 415 years, returning next in 2278. Dating back to 687 B.C.E., the Lyrids are one of the oldest meteor showers. Unlike the faster Leonids, Lyrids can produce brilliant fireballs that can outshine Venus. For the best viewing experience, find a dark spot and give your eyes about 30 minutes to adjust, looking away from Lyra to catch the longest trails. The crescent moon will set early on April 22, providing ideal dark skies across the continental U.S.