If you’re a stargazing fan and find the majesty of shooting stars amazing, prepare to have your mind blown by the annual Lyrid meteor shower – which should be visible above Sydney next month. Every April, a torrent of meteors whizz through the sky and burn up in the atmosphere to create beautiful, sparkling flashes of light. The celestial event, which is visible across skies worldwide, is expected to take place this year from April 14 to 30, and will reach its peak on April 22 and 23.
The fireballs are created by debris from the comet Thatcher. The Lyrids are actually one of the oldest recorded meteor showers, with some historical Chinese texts mentioning the shower more than 2,500 years ago. At their most active, you can expect to see around 20 shooting stars per hour. But even outside those key hours, you're likely to see the occasional flash of light or cluster of shooting stars.
This year, the meteors are expected to be peak around 1am AEST on April 23, so bundle up for a late night of stargazing. This interactive map can tell you exactly where to look. The best part? You don’t need any special equipment or astronomical skills to view this meteor shower – just make sure to give your eyes enough time to adjust to the darkness. Keep in mind that Lyrid meteors are relatively fast, but on the plus side they are surprisingly bright.
If you need to scope out a good viewing point, head to one of these stargazing spots across Sydney.
Happy star spotting!
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