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Comet Thatcher

All articles tagged with #comet thatcher

space1 month ago•69 min saved

Lyrid Meteor Shower Peaks Tonight: Up to 20 Meteors per Hour Under Dark Skies

The Lyrid meteor shower peaks in the early predawn hours of April 22, with observers under dark skies potentially seeing up to 20 meteors per hour as the Moon sets around midnight; the radiant lies in Lyra near Vega, so look northeast and away from lights to catch longer streaks, and the best viewing is before dawn as Lyra climbs. For the strongest show, find a dark location, let your eyes adjust 20–30 minutes, and stay outside for at least an hour (fireballs are possible). If you can’t go outside, live streams of the sky show are available, and the meteors originate from debris left by Comet Thatcher.

via Space|

#comet-thatcher #lyra #lyrid-meteor-shower

astronomy1 month ago•2 min saved

Lyrid Meteor Shower to Light Up Skies This Week

The Lyrid meteor shower, radiating from Lyra near Vega, peaks the night of April 21–22, with dark-sky observers catching about 15–20 meteors per hour from around midnight through dawn (a second viewing opportunity follows Wednesday night). The debris comes from Comet Thatcher, streaking through the atmosphere at roughly 108,000 mph about 80 miles up. No special equipment is needed—just a dark location and a comfortable spot to lie back as Lyra rises in the northeast. Even city dwellers can glimpse bright Lyrids away from lights; if clouds block the sky, you can instead monitor meteors via radar using LiveMeteors, where brighter fireballs produce louder pings. A fun fact: the parent comet won’t return near Earth again until about 2283.

via WTOP|

#astronomy #comet-thatcher #lyra-constellation

science1 month ago•3 min saved

Lyrid Meteor Shower Peaks With 10–20 Meteors Per Hour

The Lyrid meteor shower, from debris left by comet Thatcher, is set to peak with 10–20 meteors per hour and will be best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere after midnight; dim crescent moonlight should aid visibility, so find a dark spot away from city lights, let your eyes adjust for 15–30 minutes, and be patient as meteors appear to radiate from Lyra. The Eta Aquarids will follow in early May.

via ScienceAlert|

#astronomy #comet-thatcher #lyra

space1 month ago•75 min saved

Lyrid meteor shower returns with moonless pre-dawn viewing

After a long quiet spell, the Lyrid meteor shower returns with fast, bright meteors and ideal viewing before dawn; at its peak on Wednesday morning (April 22), observers can expect about 10–20 meteors per hour under dark skies, with Vega rising and the Moon set by around 1:15 a.m., and the debris originates from Comet Thatcher (1861 G1), offering a classic, ancient meteor display.

via Space|

#astronomy #comet-thatcher #lyrid-meteor-shower

science1 month ago•2 min saved

Lyrid meteor shower peaks April 21–22: tips for prime viewing

The Lyrid meteor shower, one of the oldest recorded, peaks the night of April 21–22, offering about 10–15 meteors per hour in dark skies after moonset. The debris comes from Comet Thatcher, with the radiant in the Lyra constellation near Vega; for best viewing, find a dark location away from city lights, lie back facing east, and give your eyes 15–20 minutes to adjust, watching in the predawn hours when the radiant is high.

via USA Today|

#astronomy #comet-thatcher #lyra-and-vega-radiant

science1 month ago•35 min saved

Spring’s Ancient Fireworks: Lyrid Meteor Shower Peaks Next Week

The Lyrids (April 14–30) originate from Comet Thatcher’s debris and will peak in the predawn hours of April 21–22, typically producing 10–15 meteors per hour. No special gear is needed—just a clear, dark sky away from city lights, and about 15–20 minutes for your eyes to adjust, with the radiant in Lyra near Vega, best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere (some meteors may also be seen from the Southern Hemisphere).

via Yahoo|

#comet-thatcher #lyra #lyrids

space1 month ago•80 min saved

Predawn Lyrids 2026: How, when and where to watch the shooting stars

The Lyrid meteor shower runs April 16–25, 2026, peaking in the predawn hours of April 22. Expect about 15–20 meteors per hour (with rare outbursts) from debris of Comet Thatcher (C/1861 G1 Thatcher). The radiant is in Lyra near the Hercules–Lyra border, best viewed from a dark sky before dawn as the Moon sets after midnight. No special equipment is needed—just look up and enjoy.

via Space|

#april-2026 #comet-thatcher #lyra

space1 month ago•77 min saved

April Lyrids to blaze across predawn skies with up to 18 meteors per hour

Space.com reports the Lyrid meteor shower peaks overnight April 21–22 with as many as ~18 meteors per hour. The radiant lies near Lyra’s Vega and the debris comes from Comet Thatcher (C/1861 G1). The shower runs April 16–25, best seen in dark, predawn skies away from light pollution after the Moon sets; give your eyes 20–30 minutes to adapt and consider red-light use for viewing and photography.

via Space|

#comet-thatcher #lyra #lyrid-meteor-shower

astronomy2 years ago•4 min saved

"Anticipating the 2024 Lyrid Meteor Shower: What to Expect This Weekend"

The annual Lyrid meteor shower is set to peak on April 22, but this year's display is expected to be hindered by a bright waxing gibbous moon, making it difficult to see all but the brightest meteors. The Lyrids are known for their fast and brilliant meteors, with an average velocity of 30 miles per second, and about 5 to 10 meteors can usually be seen each hour under good skies. These meteors are debris left behind by the long-departed comet Thatcher, and their paths appear to diverge from a spot near the star Vega in the constellation of Lyra. While the Lyrids are typically a weak display, they have a history of surprising observers, making them worth watching.

via Space.com|

#astronomy #comet-thatcher #lyrid-meteor-shower

astronomy2 years ago•2 min saved

"2024 Lyrid Meteor Shower: Peak Viewing Tips and Best Places to Watch"

The annual Lyrid meteor shower is currently underway, peaking Sunday into Monday with an expected 10 to 20 meteors per hour. To observe the event, look to the northeast and maintain focus on the same spot in the sky, although the nearly full moon may hinder visibility. Meteor showers originate from comet debris and can be seen without special equipment, with the next major shower being the Eta Aquarids in early May.

via Fox News|

#astronomy #celestial-event #comet-thatcher

astronomy2 years ago•4 min saved

"Lyrid Meteor Shower: Viewing Tips for North America's Peak"

The annual Lyrid meteor shower, caused by the Earth passing through the orbit of Comet Thatcher, is set to peak on April 21st in the northern hemisphere, with an expected 10 to 15 meteors per hour under ideal conditions. However, challenges such as a bright waxing gibbous moon and unfavorable weather may hinder visibility. Scientists recommend viewing from a dark area away from city lights and allowing time for eyes to adjust to darkness. The meteor shower will last until April 29th, and viewers are encouraged to share their meteor videos online.

via WXII12 Winston-Salem|

#astronomy #comet-thatcher #lyrid-meteor-shower

astronomy2 years ago•3 min saved

"Your Guide to Viewing the Lyrids Meteor Shower This Week"

The Lyrids Meteor Shower, originating from Comet Thatcher, is currently active and will peak on the nights of April 21 to 22 and 22 to 23. Best observed from the Northern Hemisphere, the shower may produce around 10 to 15 meteors per hour due to interference from the bright waxing gibbous Moon. Skywatchers can locate the radiant point near the bright star Vega and expect meteors to rain down from the top of the Northern Hemisphere sky. The parent comet, Comet Thatcher, was discovered in 1861 and takes around 416 to 422 years to orbit the Sun.

via Quartz|

#astronomy #comet-thatcher #lyrids-meteor-shower

astronomy2 years ago•2 min saved

"Ultimate Guide to Watching the Lyrid Meteor Shower"

The Lyrids Meteor Shower, originating from Comet Thatcher, is currently active and will peak on the nights of April 21 to 22 and 22 to 23. Best observed from the Northern Hemisphere, the shower may produce around 10 to 15 meteors per hour due to interference from the bright waxing gibbous Moon. Skywatchers can locate the radiant point near the bright star Vega and expect meteors to rain down from the top of the Northern Hemisphere sky. The Lyrids are the oldest recorded meteor shower, with observations dating back to 687 BCE, and are associated with Comet Thatcher, a long-period comet expected to reach its next perihelion around the year 2283.

via Gizmodo|

#astronomy #comet-thatcher #lyrids-meteor-shower

astronomy2 years ago•1 min saved

"Lyrid Meteor Shower: A Spectacular Celestial Event in April"

The annual Lyrids meteor shower, originating from the comet Thatcher, will peak on the night of April 22nd, offering between five and 20 meteors an hour, with the possibility of rare "fireballs". The Earth encounters the dust particles left behind by the comet every year between April 15th and 29th, with occasional outbursts of increased activity. The shower will be visible in the northern sky, with the constellation reaching its highest point around 2am from the southern hemisphere.

via The Guardian|

#astronomical-event #astronomy #comet-thatcher

skywatching3 years ago•5 min saved

Don't Miss the Lyrid Meteor Shower Peak This Weekend

The annual Lyrid meteor shower will peak overnight on Saturday, April 22, offering skywatchers the opportunity to spot some fast and bright meteors as they streak through the night sky. The Lyrids, which occur around April each year, aren't the most active of the meteor showers experienced over Earth each year as our planet makes its annual passage around the sun. At peak activity and in ideal viewing conditions like dark skies and clear weather, skywatchers could expect to see around 18 meteors per hour from the Lyrids.

via Space.com|

#astronomy #comet-thatcher #lyrid-meteor-shower