JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Skywatchers, Monday night is your time to shine!
The annual Lyrid meteor shower peaks in the early morning hours of April 22, and the skies across our local area are mostly clear — a big plus for catching a few shooting stars.
The Lyrids aren’t the most prolific meteor shower of the year, but with our good conditions, they can still put on a memorable show.
This year, the moon waits until 3:35 a.m. to rise, meaning we get several dark-sky hours before its glow interferes. That’s the prime window for spotting meteors streaking across the sky from a few hours after sunset until just before the pre-dawn moonlight. With peak rates expected to hit 10 to 20 meteors per hour, it’s worth heading outside and letting your eyes adjust to the dark.
The meteors will appear to radiate from the northeast near the constellation Lyra, which climbs high into the sky after midnight. But you don’t have to stare directly at it — meteors can flash across any part of the sky. The key is a wide, unobstructed view and as little ambient light as possible.
Lyrids can be unpredictable. Most years, they’re modest — a steady sprinkle of brief flashes — but now and then, they throw a curveball. In 1982, Floridians witnessed an outburst of up to 75 meteors per hour. It’s not likely, but not impossible either. More common is the occasional fireball: a bright, slow-moving meteor that leaves a lasting impression — and sometimes even a smoke-like trail.
If you don’t catch much tonight, don’t get discouraged. The cosmos is giving us a second chance soon.
Starting this week, the Eta Aquarid meteor shower begins to build. This one’s powered by none other than Halley’s Comet, and while the shower ramps up slowly, it peaks in the early morning hours of May 6. That night promises a much stronger show, with up to 50 meteors per hour and no moon to wash out the view. The Eta Aquarids move fast — over 40 miles per second — and often leave glowing trails that hang in the sky.
May’s Eta Aquarids could be the real headliner — and you won’t need a telescope, just clear skies and a little late-night curiosity.